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The Conqueror
Kirilov is a character that Camus discusses in the ‘Absurd Creation’ chapter. He comes from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s book The Possessed (also translated as Demons or The Devils). Camus praises Dostoevksy for the character, who seems to embody elements of the absurd in his daily life. Like Camus, Kirilov is only interested in dealing with certainties (and then proceeding wherever the consequences might lead). For Kirilov, for the world to have meaning depends on their being a God. But he can’t bring himself to believe in God, and therefore decides that, in terms of having control over his own will, he is essentially his own god. Kirilov commits what Camus calls “logical suicide” because he wants to demonstrate his own “freedom” (which he feels will benefit others too). His final words before shooting himself are “all is well”—these neatly sum up the approach Camus believes is necessary in the face of the absurd: to accept it and live with it.
Kirilov Quotes in The Myth of Sisyphus
The The Myth of Sisyphus quotes below are all either spoken by Kirilov or refer to Kirilov. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
10. Kirilov
Quotes
All of Dostoevsky’s heroes question themselves as to the meaning of life. In this they are modern: they do not fear ridicule. What distinguishes modern sensibility from classical sensibility is that the latter thrives on moral problems and the former on metaphysical problems. In Dostoevsky’s novels the question is propounded with such intensity that it can only invite extreme solutions. Existence is illusory or it is eternal. If Dostoevsky were satisfied with this inquiry, he would be a philosopher. But he illustrates the consequences that such intellectual pastimes may have in a man’s life, and in this regard he is an artist.
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Kirilov Quotes in The Myth of Sisyphus
The The Myth of Sisyphus quotes below are all either spoken by Kirilov or refer to Kirilov. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
10. Kirilov
Quotes
All of Dostoevsky’s heroes question themselves as to the meaning of life. In this they are modern: they do not fear ridicule. What distinguishes modern sensibility from classical sensibility is that the latter thrives on moral problems and the former on metaphysical problems. In Dostoevsky’s novels the question is propounded with such intensity that it can only invite extreme solutions. Existence is illusory or it is eternal. If Dostoevsky were satisfied with this inquiry, he would be a philosopher. But he illustrates the consequences that such intellectual pastimes may have in a man’s life, and in this regard he is an artist.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
