"Caligula" Act I Questions

1.      Camus demonstrates Caligula’s heart by describing his desires and what he wants, which is the moon. The implication is that what Caligula wants is not equivalent with what suits reality. When he describes what he wants, people think he is crazy. What makes sense to Caligula does not to the people (Patricians, Helicon, Cherea and Scipio).

2.      The people in power view Caligula as a weak, helpless guy. They assume the worse about him. In the beginning when the First and Second Patricians describe the loss of a person, “‘quite so.Take my case. I shed many tears, and then I forgot, Even now I feel a pang of grief at times, But, happily, it doesn’t amount to much.’”(Camus 4). I think this references the pain Caligula might be experiencing at the time. Another example is when Cherea and The First Patrician talk about Caligula’s ruling and how they are just satisfied with him being king. “‘As an emperor, he was perfection’s self. Yes, exactly the emperor we wanted; conscientious and inexperienced’” (Camus 4). I do not necessarily agree with those in power fully because I don’t always think it is right to judge people so harshly. I think they just might not like Caligula as a person and what he is looking for.