The Fall story
Set in Amsterdam, The Fall consists of a series of dramatic monologues by the self-proclaimed "judge-penitent" Jean-Baptiste Clamence, as he reflects upon his life to a stranger. In what amounts to a confession, Clamence tells of his success as a wealthy Parisian defense lawyer who was highly respected by his colleagues; his crisis, and his ultimate "fall" from grace, was meant to invoke, in secular terms, The Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden. The Fall explores themes of innocence, imprisonment, non-existence, and truth.
10 total · 2 choice · 7 major · 1 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| coping with mortality | choice | Clamence talks about immortality and death a lot |
| nihilism | choice | there is no objective truth in this world and God is dead |
| contempt | major | Clamence feels a lot of contempt for this and that |
| legal occupation | major | The whole story centered on Clemance who had been a lawyer and, in between philosophical musings, explains his career in some detail. |
| romantic love | major | old Clamence laments he cannot achieve |
| the desire for fame | major | young Clamence desires fame |
| vanity | major | Clamence is patently vain |
| what it is like in a legal proceeding | major | The whole story centered on Clemance who had been a lawyer and, in between philosophical musings, explains his career in some detail. |
| womanizing man | major | Clamence reflects on his womanizing |
| embarrassment | minor | car incident at p34 |