University of Virginia Library

American Premiere
Of Camus' 'Caligula'

By Corbin Eissler
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Albert Camus' play "Caligula"
will be presented for the first time
in the United States by the
distinguished French repertory company
Le Treteau De Paris, Monday,
February 16. The production is
sponsored by the Department of
Romance Languages of the University.

The play was originally presented
in 1946, when Gerard
Philippe created the role of Caligula
which Camus had originally written
for himself. The play is just as
relevant today as when it was
originally presented in war-shattered
France.

Actor's Play

Perhaps the best description of
the play is that of Camus himself,
who said, "Caligula" is an actor's
and director's play. But, of course,
it takes its inspiration from concerns
that were mine at the
moment. French criticism, although
it greeted the play very cordially,
often astonished me by speaking of
it as a philosophical play. Is there
any truth in this?

Caligula, a relatively attractive
prince up to then, becomes aware,
on the death of Drusilla, his sister
and mistress, that the world is not
satisfactory. Therefore, obsessed
with the impossible and poisoned
with scorn and horror, he tries,
through murder and systematic
perversion of all values to practice a
liberty that he will eventually
discover is not to be the right one.
He challenges friendship and love,
common human solidarity, good
and evil. He takes those about him
at their word and forces them to be
logical; he levels everything around
him by the strength of his rejection
and the destructive fury to which
his passion for life leads him.

But, if his truth is to rebel
against fate, his error lies in
negating what binds him to mankind.
One cannot destroy everything
without destroying oneself.
This is why Caligula depopulates
the world around him and, faithful
to his logic, does what is necessary
to arm against him those who will
eventually kill him. "Caligula" is
the story of a superior suicide. It is
the story of the most human and
most tragic of errors. Unfaithful to
mankind through fidelity to himself.
Caligula accepts death because
he had understood that no one can
save himself all alone and that one
cannot be free at the expense of
others.

Intelligent Tragedy

Consequently, it is a tragedy of
intelligence. Whence the natural
conclusion that the drama was
intellectual. Personally, I think I am
well aware of the work's shortcomings.
But I look in vain for
philosophy in these four acts. Or, if
it exists, it stands on the level of
this assertion of the hero: "Men
die; and they are not happy." A
very modest ideology, as you see,
which I have the impression of
sharing with Everyman. No, my
ambition lay elsewhere. For the
dramatist the passion for the
impossible is just as valid a subject
for study as avarice and adultery.
Showing it in all its frenzy,
illustrating the havoc it wreaks,
bringing out its failure - such was
my intention. And the work must
be judged thereon." And judged as
well worth seeing.