The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt

The Rebel was first published in 1951, only a few years after the end of World War II. What is the relationship between The Rebel and its historical context? How does Camus describe the war? How did the war and its aftermath influence Camus’s ideas about rebellion?

Camus cites famous writers and philosophers—such as the Romantics, the Marquis de Sade, and Nietzsche—in developing his ideas about rebellion, individuality, and freedom. What is the relationship between art and rebellion in The Rebel?

Explore the role of nihilism in Camus’s thought, considering both its historical and intellectual development. Why does Camus see it as the definitive philosophy of the modern era? What is the nature of nihilistic rebellion?

Camus argues that thinkers like Nietzsche and Marx both bear some responsibility for the undesirable results of their ideologies. However, he also acknowledges that their ideologies have sometimes been distorted in ways neither one would have approved. What flaws does Camus detect in the thinking of both men? How are they similar to one another? How are they different?

The Rebel opens with Camus presenting the figure of the disobedient slave as his representative of a rebel. What is the significance of Camus’s choice? How does the idea of the disobedient slave relate to the theme of rebellion in the work as a whole?

The nature of freedom is a recurring concern throughout The Rebel. Choose a writer or philosopher featured in the work and analyze Camus’s approach to their ideas. How does the writer/philosopher represent freedom? How do their thoughts relate to Camus’s own ideas about what freedom is? Do you agree with Camus’s assessment?

Camus lived and wrote in a century defined by totalitarianism and extremist ideologies. How does Camus address these issues in his work? How and why does true rebellion serve as an antidote to them?

Consider Camus’s own biographical context in light of his ideas in The Rebel. Was Camus a “rebel” in his own life? Why or why not?