Clamence's Retreat into Debauchery

Despairing of love and chastity, Clamence turns to debauchery as a substitute. He frequents sordid nightclubs, drinks heavily, and engages in meaningless sexual encounters. He finds a temporary liberation in this lifestyle, as it creates no obligations and quiets the laughter. However, his health deteriorates, and he experiences a profound fatigue. The debauchery, while providing a brief escape, ultimately leads him to a state of numbness and indifference, a 'cure' that is a form of living death.