Reading 8: "The Adulterous Woman"

"The Adulterous Woman" by Albert Camus was not what I expected. This tale, incredibly well-written and descriptive, painted a vivid picture of a love affair with a place and a feeling, not another person. The author set up the story in a way that I expected, writing about the main character's loneliness despite the fact that she's married. The descriptions were relatable; the feeling of aloneness even in the presence of many, and the idea that you're less alone or loved because you're needed. He also vividly set the scene and painted Janine's inner turmoil by isolating her and highlighting how she felt as if she shouldn't have gone on the trip. Doubt and disinterest plague her inner thoughts. The story takes a sudden turn when a place, rather than a person, captures Janine's interest. She encourages her husband to come with her and visit a fort recommended by a local. When she reaches the terrace, time stands still, the landscape consumes her vision. When she revisits the terrace, the silence and the vastness of the space surrounds and embraces her. The thoughts and questions that she's had are answered, and a love affair takes place. I really like that Camus wrote about the impact that a place can have on someone; the unexplainable depth and awe that an environment can have on a soul. I think this story highlights why people travel, the escape from one place, and the meeting of another. Oftentimes we struggle to find words to describe the impact a place can have, and Camus does so by painting it as a love affair, a description to which many can relate.