The man of the hour

In his confessional monologue, Jean-Baptiste Clamence introduces the concept of "the man of the hour" as a central element of his method as a judge-penitent. This figure is not a specific person but a composite portrait, a mask that Clamence constructs from the features he shares with his listeners. By selecting the experiences, failings, and characteristics common to the age, he creates an image that is "the image of all and of no one," a stylized likeness that prompts his interlocutors to exclaim, "Why, surely I've met him!" This universalized portrait allows Clamence to accuse himself publicly while simultaneously holding up a mirror to his audience, forcing them to recognize their own guilt in his confession.

The Construction of the Mask

Clamence's technique involves a deliberate and skillful navigation of his own confessions. He does not simply beat his breast but multiplies distinctions and digressions, adapting his words to his listener and leading them to go him one better. He mingles what concerns himself with what concerns others, choosing the features they have in common, the experiences they have endured together, and the failings they share. This process culminates in the construction of a portrait that is both lifelike and stylized, a carnival mask that serves as a universal symbol of the contemporary human condition. The portrait is presented with great sorrow, as Clamence declares, "This, alas, is what I am!"

The Function of the Portrait

The portrait of the man of the hour serves a dual purpose. First, it allows Clamence to indulge in a public confession, accusing himself up and down without the risk of genuine vulnerability, as the confession is filtered through a universalized mask. Second, and more crucially, the portrait becomes a mirror for his contemporaries. By showing them this image and claiming it as his own, he provokes them into judging themselves. The trick is complete when he imperceptibly passes from the "I" to the "we," declaring, "This is what we are." This shift grants him the right to judge others, as he has established a shared guilt. His superiority lies in his knowledge of this shared condition, which gives him the authority to speak and to condemn.