3.5 stars

This article offers a decent overview of the topic at hand. However, it could benefit from further expansion and elaboration. There are several key points that could be explored in more detail to provide a more comprehensive understanding. For example, the author briefly mentions a particular aspect, but fails to fully develop it. This leaves the reader with some unanswered questions. Additionally, the writing style could be enhanced to make the article more engaging and accessible. By adding more examples and anecdotes, the author could bring the content to life and make it more relatable to the average reader. Overall, while the article has its merits, there is room for improvement to raise it to a higher level.

I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe. This poignant quote from our narrator struck me like a thunderbolt. I loved it, not because I wholeheartedly agreed with this sentiment. But rather because it was the thoughts of a man I initially loathed. However, as this work progressed, the writer developed such a beautifully layered character that I felt like I identified with him, in some way, on a deeper level. That made me squirm.

This is a brilliant novella of a man, our narrator, who seems to cruise through life, apparently not caring. To the extent of seeming to not have any opinions, views, or desires for anything at all. He attracts a small gaggle of undesirables, who are just as equally dislikable as him. Unexpectedly, he did attract the affections of a nice young woman, which made me think, “what the hell was she doing?”

Our narrator, who seems to glide through life, doesn't have it all his own way and becomes involved in a situation he is unable to extract himself from. A situation he will find it increasingly impossible to elude. The story is dark, gripping, revealing, psychological and quite simply, brilliant.

Many thanks to my buddy reader Jennifer for sharing this story with me.

5 Stars
* See my reply to Candi below :))

The book starts with the account of death and ends with the thought of death.

Between these two accounts of death, Camus talks about the philosophy of life, about absurdity, and about being a stranger.

Strangeness with everything.

Reading this book gives me a sense of dizziness.

A strange feeling.

Like Camus, thinking sometimes becomes overly terrifying.

Terrifying like reality.

This book delves deep into the human condition and forces us to confront the uncomfortable truths about life and death.

It makes us question our beliefs and values and forces us to look at the world from a different perspective.

Camus' writing is both profound and accessible, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in philosophy, literature, or the human experience.

It challenges us to think deeply and to face the unknown with courage and honesty.

Overall, this is a powerful and thought-provoking book that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

The Stranger: Mersault in the Moment

  Is that all there is?
Is that all there is?
If that's all there is my friends
Then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is--Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

I hear the people singing, so it must be Christmas time


It's Christmas night, 2015. Instead of reading Charles Dickens, I've been engrossed in Albert Camus. I've finished The Stranger rather than the usual Christmas fare like A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings or The Gift of the Magi.


You might wonder why I'm doing this to myself. I have a choice, after all. But it feels absurd. I could be watching heartwarming Christmas movies like "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Miracle on 34th Street". Instead, I pour myself another Scotch, light a cigarette, and let the smoke drift up and dissipate. Smoking isn't good for you, I know. But then again, none of us are getting out of this alive.


The attic fan is on, sucking away the smoke. It's unduly warm, not at all like Christmas. There's no tree, no lights. Just the drone of the fan and the damp humidity that spoils the crispness of the uneaten biscuits on the stove.


Talking to Mersault


Ah, Mersault. You poor soul. Did you not see this coming? From the very beginning, I knew your story would end badly. "Maman died today. Or maybe yesterday; I can't be sure." You travel to the home where you've placed your mother. The Director tells you not to feel guilty. But you don't even want to see her one last time. You sit vigil over her casket, smoking and drinking coffee.


I understand a bit, Mersault. I saw my mother one last time too. After a call from the hospital. They hadn't attended to her properly. Her jaw hung slack and open. I'll always remember her struggling for that last breath. They asked me what to do with "the body". I told them the name of the crematorium. I don't remember if I took her diamond earrings.


Perhaps it was a good idea not to open the casket. But you seem so emotionless. You live in the moment, as if you have no past or future. You're indifferent. Some might say you're too honest. I don't think it's out of simple guilelessness. At times, I've wondered the same thing myself. What's the point of it all?


You seek the comfort of a woman's companionship. I understand that. But when she asks if you love her, your response is telling. "She was wearing a pair of my pajamas with the sleeves rolled up. When she laughed I wanted her again. A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn't mean anything but that I didn't think so." You only react to the basic desires of a person. Any emotions you have, you keep well hidden. All this will haunt you, Mersault. You're a stranger, an outsider. And your lack of emotion is unacceptable to the society that surrounds you. You'll be a pariah.


We, the members of society, practice conventions and behaviors that make us comfortable and predictable. There's safety in that. But what if you're right? What if nothing has any meaning? How does that make you feel?


You murder a man and offer no explanation other than it must have been the sun. Suddenly, you seem to recognize there will be consequences. "I knew that I had shattered the harmony of the day, the exceptional silence of a beach where I'd been happy. Then I fired four more times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace. And it was like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness."


Yes, it was like that. And you'll face trial. Because you don't possess the emotions and expectations of those who judge you, they'll hate you. They'll condemn you for not following the rules of their game. You see, it's dangerous to live in an indifferent world. Your unwavering honesty takes away the comfort of those who sit in judgment of you. They want their lives to have purpose and certainty by following the rules.


They'll kill you for that, you know. It's sad but true. Hope that the guillotine works the first time. That's the only say you have in this game's outcome. Perhaps you'll find some comfort and open yourself "to the gentle indifference of the world."


Afterthoughts


Thirteen years after The Stranger was published, Albert Camus said, "I summarized The Stranger a long time ago, with a remark I admit was highly paradoxical: 'In our society any man who does not weep at his mother's funeral runs the risk of being sentenced to death.' I only meant that the hero of my book is condemned because he does not play the game."

I don't know what to do with these stars anymore. I give stars to books, and then I think, 'god, you give five stars to everything, people will think you are terribly undiscriminating'. So then I give four stars or even three stars to some books. Then I look back and it turns out that I've given four stars to Of Human Bondage, and honestly, how could I possibly have thought it was a good idea to give that book less than five stars? It is the absurdity of human conventions that has us doing such things.

Now, that is what is called a segue, from the Italian'seguire' – to follow.

For the last thirty years, I have studiously avoided reading this book. I have done that because for the last thirty years, I have known exactly what this book is about, and there just didn't seem any point in reading it. In high school, friends (one of them even became my ex-wife) told me it was a great book about a man condemned to die because he was an outsider.

Later, I was told that this book was a story about something much like the Azaria Chamberlain case. A case where someone does not react in a way that is considered to be'socially appropriate' and is therefore condemned.

But after 30 years of avoiding reading this book, I have finally relented and read it. At first, I didn't think I was going to enjoy it. It didn't really get off to the raciest of starts, and the character's voice – it is told in first person – was a bit dull. He is a man who lives entirely in the present, how terribly Buddhist of him – although, really, there doesn't seem to be all that much to him.

My opinion of the book began to change at his mother's funeral. I particularly liked the man who kept falling behind in the march to the cemetery and would take short cuts. Okay, so it is black humour, but Camus was more or less French – so black humour is more or less obligatory.

I really hadn't expected this book to be nearly so funny as it turned out. I'd always been told it was a ponderous philosophical text – and so, to be honest, I was expecting to be bored out of my skull. I wasn't in the least bit bored.

A constant theme in my life at present is that I read 'classics' expecting them to be about something, and they end up being about something completely different. And given I've called this a 'constant' theme, then you might think I would be less than surprised when I read a new 'classic' and it turns out to be completely different to my expectations. I'm a little more upset about this one than some of the others, as I've been told about this one before, repeatedly, and by people I'd have taken as'reputable sources' – although, frankly, how well one should trust one's ex-wife in such matters is moot.

I had gotten the distinct impression from all of my previous discussions about this book that the guy ends up dead. In fact, this is not the case – he ends up at the point in his life where he has no idea if he will be freed or not. The Priest who comes to him at the end is actually quite certain that he will be freed. Let's face it, he is only guilty of having murdered an Arab, and as we have daily evidence, Westerners can murder Arabs with complete impunity.

The main point of the book to me is when he realises he is no longer 'free'. He needs this explained to him – because life up until then had been about 'getting used to things', and one can 'get used to just about anything'. But the prison guard helpfully informs him that he is being 'punished', and the manifestation of that punishment is the removal of his 'freedom'. Interestingly, he didn't notice the difference between his past 'free' life and his current 'unfree' one.

The most interesting part of the book to me was the very end, the conversation with the priest. The religious often make the mistake of thinking that Atheists are one thing – I've no idea how they ever came to make this mistake, but make it they do. Given that there are thousands upon thousands of different shades of Christians – from Jesuit Catholics to Anti-Disney Episcopalians – it should be fairly obvious that something like Atheism (without any 'organised' church or even system of beliefs) could not be in anyway 'homogeneous'.

I am definitely not the same kind of Atheist as Camus. To Camus, there is no truth, the world is essentially absurd, and all that exists is the relative truth an individual places on events and ideas. This makes the conversation with the priest fascinatingly interesting. To the priest, the prisoner who is facing death is – by necessity – someone who is interested in God. You can play around with ideas like the non-existence of God when it doesn't seem to matter (life is long and blasphemy can seem fun) – but surely when confronted with the stark truth of the human condition, any man would turn away from their disbelief and see the shining light.

Not this little black duck. Now, if I was in that cell, I would have argued with the priest too – but I would not have argued in the same way that Meursault argues. No, I do not believe in God, but I do believe in truth, and so Camus' arguments are barred to me.

Meursault essentially says, “Look, I'm bored, I'm totally uninterested in the rubbish you are talking – now go away”. Now, this is a reasonable response. What is very interesting is that the priest cannot accept this as an answer. The world is not allowed to have such a person in it – if such a person really did exist, then it would be a fundamental challenge to the core beliefs of the priest. So, he has to assume Meursault is either lying to him or is trying to taunt him. But it is much worse – he is absolutely sincere, he is not interested in this 'truth'.

I don't know that the world is completely meaningless, it is conventional rather than meaningless. That those conventions are arbitrary (decided by the culture we grew up in) doesn't make them meaningless, it makes them conventional. I don't think I would like to live in a world where people go up and kill Arabs pretty much at random and with impunity, but then again, we have already established this is precisely the world I do live in. My point is that it would be better if we did adhere to some sort of moral principles, and that these should be better principles than 'he should be killed because he didn't cry at his mum's funeral'.

Camus is seeking to say that all of our'moral principles' in the end come to be as meaningless as that – we judge on the basis of what we see from the framework of our own limited experience. And look, yes, there is much to this – but this ends up being too easy.

The thing I like most about Existentialism, though it isn't really as evident in this book as it is in the actual philosophy – although this is something that Meursault is supposed to have grown to understand (sorry, just one more sub-clause) even though this wasn't something I noticed at all while reading the book, was the notion of responsibility. I didn't think in the end Meursault was all that much more'responsible' for his actions than he had been at the start. But I do think that'responsibility' is a key concept in morality and one that seems increasingly to be ignored.

Better by far that we feel responsible for too much in our lives than too little – better by far that we take responsibility for the actions of our governments (say) than to call these governments 'them'.

I'm not advocating believing in The Secret - but that if one must err, better to err on the side of believing you have too much responsibility for how your life has turned out, rather than too little.

So, what can I say? I enjoyed this much more than I expected – but I'm still glad I waited before reading it, I really don't think I would have gotten nearly as much out of it at 15 as I did now.

The copy of "The Stranger" (aka "The Outsider") that I read in 1999 had an eye-catching front and back cover. The opening line, "Mother died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know," immediately sets the tone for a story that is quite different from anything else. Albert Camus describes Mersault's strange lack of feelings regarding his mother's death, making him seem like a true "stranger" as the book's name implies.

There is a significant difference between the attitudes towards aging parents in the West and the East. In the West, people like Mersault may be insensitive and send their parents to old people's homes. However, in the East, it is the opposite, with children taking care of their parents until death. Sadly, though, in recent years, some grown-up children in the East have started emulating the West and putting their parents in old people's homes, leaving them to live a torturous and lonely life.

Camus beautifully brings out the melancholia of loneliness and a departed friend in the book. Mersault's habit of watching the world from his bedroom balcony shows his introverted nature. The strangeness of the story attracts readers and keeps them engaged until the end. Camus, unfortunately, died at a young age in a car accident, but his novels like "The Stranger" and "The Plague" are considered exemplars of absurdism. The book has also inspired works like The Cure's "Killing An Arab" and has been adapted into films and plays.

The eye-catching front along with back cover of the copy of "The Stranger" (aka "The Outsider") which I read in 1999.

An amazing black & white sketch of Albert Camus who is no stranger to lovers of literature.

Mersault indulges in his favourite pastime: watching everyday going-ons from his bedroom balcony/veranda. Who doesn't like doing that!

Albert Camus's famous novel, "The Stranger", was adapted into a Swedish play, "Främlingen". Niklas Asker illustrated the chilling image for the play's poster.

Luchino Visconti's "The Stranger" makes it to the August 1968 cover of Films and Filming.

Marcello Mastroianni as "The Stranger" in Luchino Visconti's 1967 film.

The front sleeve of The Cure's "Killing An Arab".

The single's back sleeve with the band's clarification.

You know, it's truly quite remarkable that Camus was able to pen an entire novel from the perspective of that particular individual whom you constantly endeavor to avoid at house parties. It's as if he delved deep into the psyche of this often-dismissed character and brought their thoughts, feelings, and experiences to life on the pages. This unique approach not only challenges our preconceived notions about such people but also offers a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on human nature. Camus' ability to do this with such skill and finesse is a testament to his literary genius. By choosing this unlikely narrator, he forces us to confront our own biases and perhaps see the world in a different light. It makes one wonder what other hidden stories and perspectives lie within the individuals we so easily overlook in our daily lives.

The book is written in a simple style, making it a relatively quick read. However, the depth that Camus manages to convey through this simplicity is truly astounding.

One problem that many people have with this book is that they fail to look beyond the "what is the meaning of life" message. While this is an interesting question, the book actually raises numerous other philosophical questions.

What I find most interesting among these is "what truly defines humanity or makes someone human?" During Meursault's trial, he is constantly accused of not showing remorse and being cold and inhuman. But in reality, he is most definitely human, just rather detached. This leads to the question of whether one should be expected to exhibit certain characteristics in specific situations to "maintain their humanity."

It also brings up the question of whether much of our emotion is created by ourselves or by the expectations of others to display certain emotions in a given situation.

The book is also a criticism of people's attempts to dictate the lives of others. We are constantly told what is right as a way to justify our own sense of "what it means to be human." We often impose these characteristics on others, expecting them to fulfill similar traits and characteristics that have already been imposed on us. In a way, it is a self-justification of our actions as right or "human."

Constantly, Meursault is told that he must live and/or act in a certain way, whether by the judge, his lawyer, or the priest. Once he doesn't conform to these measures, he is marginalized and called "inhuman." This is an attempt by others to rationalize their own ways of life and understandings. If they can declare him "inhuman," it allows them to consider themselves human and justify their own means of living.

In the end, this book raises many more questions than it answers. But in true philosophical fashion, these are questions without definitive answers.

The Stranger by Albert Camus is a remarkable work that delves into the life of an autistic man, Meursault, who finds himself on trial for murder. The story begins with Meursault's mother's death in a home, and he is condemned for not crying at her funeral and for starting a sexual relationship the next day. However, his actions are understandable given his apathy and inability to understand neurotypical emotions. Meursault's trial is a farce, as he is unable to lie and is judged by a religious society that values conformity over truth. The novel explores themes such as the meaning of life, death, and existence, and Camus' sparse writing style adds to the effectiveness of the story. Overall, The Stranger is a thought-provoking and enjoyable read that I highly recommend to anyone interested in philosophy, French literature, or simply a good story.

I didn't feel anything except that he was beginning to annoy me. This line from the novel perfectly captures Meursault's detached and apathetic nature. He is a man who is unable to connect with others on an emotional level and who views the world with a sense of indifference.

Well, this book was fucking amazing. It's smart, short, quick, and funny. I'd highly recommend it to anyone. The Stranger is a classic for a reason, and it's easy to see why. Camus' writing is engaging and thought-provoking, and the story will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

BASIC STORY This book is about an autistic man who ends up on trial for murder. The basic story of The Stranger is simple yet powerful. Meursault's actions may seem callous and unfeeling, but they are a result of his unique perspective on life. His trial and subsequent imprisonment force him to confront his own mortality and the meaning of his existence.

THOUGHTS Camus famously said "In our society any man who does not weep at his mother's funeral runs the risk of being sentenced to death." This quote sums up the whole novel. Meursault's actions are judged by a society that values emotion and conformity over truth and individuality. His inability to conform to these expectations leads to his downfall.

Our protagonist, Meursault, is pretty apathetic to anyone else's feelings and only cares about his own comfort and happiness. He's not a greedy or angry person. But he is vulnerable to suggestion and goes along with what anyone suggests to him if it isn't any skin off his teeth. He's also almost physically unable to tell a lie or be dishonest. Meursault's character is complex and fascinating. His apathy and detachment make him an outsider in society, but they also give him a certain kind of honesty and integrity.

This ends up getting him in trouble - that, and not being able to understand basic neurotypical emotions. He can't understand what everyone is getting so worked up about. Meursault's lack of emotional understanding leads to his downfall. He is unable to see the world from other people's perspectives and is therefore unable to defend himself in court.

Let's take the beginning of the novel in which Meursault's mother dies in the Home. Meursault is condemned, hated and believed to be soulless for two reasons here: ONE: He put his mom in a Home in the first place. This seems perfectly reasonable to me. It's nice to keep your elderly parents at home, but often you can't care for them and/or they are too demented to keep living at home. For instance, Meursault works. I don't see anything wrong with him putting his mom in the Home. It's hard to just leave her alone for eight hours a day with no care and then come home to care for her instead of go out with his woman or with his friends. Besides, he said he and his mom have nothing more to say to each other. This is reasonable. Meursault's decision to put his mother in a home is a practical one, but it is also a reflection of his detachment from others. He doesn't feel the need to keep her at home out of a sense of duty or obligation, and he is more concerned with his own comfort and happiness.

For the first few days she was at the home she cried a lot. But that was because she wasn't used to it. A few months later and she would have cried if she'd been taken out. She was used to it. This is so true. I am very familiar with the elderly and persons with dementia. Often old folks cry and despair upon being put in a Home, but after a few months they have friends, they have bingo every Sunday and movie-night every Friday, they have their friends, they have their flirtations, and everything is fine. This doesn't ALWAYS happen, but I've found it generally to be true. This passage from the novel highlights the importance of understanding and empathy when dealing with the elderly and those with dementia. It's easy to judge Meursault for putting his mother in a home, but we need to consider the practicalities of the situation and the fact that his mother may have actually been happier there in the long run.

TWO: He didn't cry at his mom's funeral, and he did things like drink coffee and smoke a cigarette. The day after his mom's death he started a sexual relationship with a woman. That also seems understandable to me. Oftentimes if your parent has dementia then you say 'goodbye' to them and mourn their death much much earlier than when they actually physically die. The mom-part of his mom could have died years ago. I'm very familiar with looking at a person you once loved and who loved you back but is now merely a shell of a human being. *shrug* I hope people don't hate me or condemn me as they do Meursault, but that's how it is. That is what the demons of Alzheimer's and dementia do to people. Kill them long before they are even dead. Meursault's actions at his mother's funeral may seem callous, but they are a result of his unique emotional state. He has already said goodbye to his mother in his own way, and he doesn't feel the need to put on a show of grief for others.

The way Meursault sees it, is that she's dead, nothing's going to bring her back. Why shouldn't he drink coffee at her funeral or have a cigarette? Why should he not take up with a woman when he gets back home? Meursault's perspective on life and death is a nihilistic one. He believes that life has no meaning and that death is inevitable, so there's no point in getting worked up about it.

Are you defending what Meursault did? No. He killed a man and then shot his corpse four times for good measure. True, the man had a knife, but you know what they say about bringing a knife to a gunfight. Meursault's actions in killing the Arab are indefensible. He may have been provoked, but his response was excessive and unjustified.

Meursault is obviously a man who has no concept of the future and no concept of the consequences of his actions. He just kills the guy. Due to sensory overload - it was hot, the sun and the heat and the oppressiveness of the day was just too much for him. Again with the autism. Meursault's lack of impulse control and his inability to think about the future are both symptoms of his autism. His actions are a result of his immediate emotional state, rather than any rational thought.

He's also unable to lie at his trial. His lawyer suggests he say he was holding in his emotions at his mom's funeral instead of just having no emotions. Meursault flatly states that he cannot do this because it is untrue and he's not going to say something that isn't true. Meursault's honesty and integrity are admirable, but they also work against him in court. His refusal to lie and conform to the expectations of society make him seem even more callous and unfeeling.

Is Meursault a guy you'd want to be friends with? Obviously not. For one thing he only cares about himself. For another thing, he can't understand that emotions of others. For a third thing, he is willing to do whatever anyone suggests of him as long as it doesn't cause himself any discomfort. For a fourth thing, he takes everything that people tell him at face value. This isn't a man you can love or trust. Meursault's character flaws make him an unlikely candidate for friendship. He is self-centered, emotionally detached, and easily influenced by others.

That being said, he's not an inherently malicious guy like his friend Raymond, who is a pimp and a wife-beater who does stuff like has sex with his ex-girlfriend after pretending to make-up with her, then spit in her face. Then beat her to a bloody pulp. He is obviously someone in the book who is a sick fuck. It's my personal opinion that pimps are the lowest forms of human life. Raymond's character is truly despicable. His actions are violent, misogynistic, and cruel. He is a stark contrast to Meursault, who, while flawed, is at least honest and not actively malicious.

I would have thought you'd have said 'rapists.' Pimps are fucking rapists. They are rapists plus. Rapists and worse. I fucking hate pimps. HATE THEM. The author's strong feelings towards pimps are understandable given the nature of their profession. Pimps exploit and abuse women, and their actions are a violation of basic human rights.

What bothered him was that he "still had sexual feelings for her." But he wanted to punish her. Classic hallmark of a sick fuck. If any person, fictional or real expresses this kind of sentiment, then you know you are already dealing with a sick fuck. It's like a calling card. This passage from the novel highlights Raymond's twisted and perverse mindset. His desire to punish his ex-girlfriend while still having sexual feelings for her is a sign of his psychological instability.

But Meursault isn't a sick fuck like Raymond. He's just an autistic guy who got caught up in the wrong thing at the wrong time. Like I said, he's not a GOOD guy. And he has no sense of the future, no sense of right and wrong, and no sense of human feelings - especially any feelings that are not his own. While Meursault may not be as malicious as Raymond, he is still a deeply flawed character. His autism has made him socially inept and emotionally detached, and his actions have serious consequences.

RELIGIOUS FRANCE It was super-interesting to me to be transported back to a time when France was religious. France is such a secular country now. It was weird to be back in a time when crucifixes were being waved in people's faces and things like a lack of belief in God could be held against you in a court of law. The religious context of the novel adds an interesting layer to the story. Meursault's lack of belief in God makes him an outsider in a society that values religion and faith. His trial and imprisonment are in part a result of his refusal to conform to the religious expectations of society.

Meursault's thoughts on and dealings with the Christian Coalition were the funniest parts of the novel, I was cracking up reading them. Of course he has no interest in God or religion and hearing him argue with the priest and even the uber-religious magistrate was too funny. Meursault's interactions with the religious figures in the novel are both humorous and thought-provoking. His straightforward and honest approach to religion highlights the absurdity of some of the religious beliefs and practices of the time.

He wanted to talk to me about God again, but I went up to him and made one last attempt to explain to him that I had only a little time left and I didn't want to waste it on God. This line from the novel perfectly captures Meursault's attitude towards religion. He sees no point in discussing God or religion when he is facing his own mortality.

PHILOSOPHY Of course this book is famous for being a philosophical text and there's plenty of discussion on the meaning of life, the meaning of death, God, existence, etc. etc. etc. If you like that kind of stuff, this is a gold mine. The Stranger is a deeply philosophical novel that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Camus' writing forces us to confront our own beliefs and values and to think about the meaning and purpose of our lives.

But everybody knows life isn't worth living. Deep down I knew perfectly well that it doesn't much matter whether you die at thirty or at seventy, since in either case other men and women will naturally go one living - and for thousands of years. In fact, nothing could be clearer. Whether it was now or twenty years from now, I would still be the one dying. This passage from the novel expresses Meursault's nihilistic view of life. He believes that life has no inherent meaning or value, and that death is the ultimate end for everyone.

Camus also skewers and explores law and the legal system, which is interesting and at times amusing. The legal system in The Stranger is shown to be flawed and unjust. Meursault's trial is a farce, as he is judged by a society that values conformity over truth.

In a way, they seemed to be arguing the case as if it had nothing to do with me. Everything was happening without my participation. My fate was being decided without anyone so much as asking my opinion. This line from the novel highlights Meursault's sense of powerlessness in the face of the legal system. He is a passive observer in his own trial, and his fate is being decided by others.

I also like how Camus explores the fact that prison is more or less tolerable to Meursault because of his autism. Meursault's autism gives him a certain kind of detachment from the outside world, which makes prison more bearable for him. He is able to find moments of happiness and contentment in the simple things, such as the changing of the seasons and the light in his cell.

Maman used to say that you can always find something to be happy about. In my prison, when the sky turned red and a new day slipped into my cell, I found out that she was right. This passage from the novel shows that even in the most difficult of circumstances, there is still the possibility of finding happiness and meaning.

There are hints throughout the text that his mom was on the spectrum as well. The fact that Meursault's mother may also have been on the autism spectrum adds an interesting layer to the story. It suggests that his detachment and apathy may be genetic, and that he has grown up in a household where these traits were the norm.

It's interesting to think about how differently Meursault's trial might have gone today with modern psychiatry and a secular France. In today's society, Meursault's autism would likely be taken into account during his trial, and he may not have been sentenced to death. The legal system is more understanding of mental illness and neurological disorders, and there is a greater emphasis on rehabilitation and treatment rather than punishment.

STYLE Camus is writing in a sparse style here, in the vein of Hemingway. This lends to Meursault's voice and unique outlook on life and is very effective. It also makes the novel a quick and easy read. Camus' writing style is简洁明了 and to the point. His use of short sentences and simple language adds to the sense of detachment and apathy that pervades the novel.

Meursault's everyday life is boring - as is everyone's - and Camus captures this well without losing his readers' interest, which I think is quite a feat. The平凡的生活 of Meursault is a reflection of the平凡的生活 of most people. Camus is able to make the ordinary seem extraordinary by highlighting the small details and moments that make up our lives.

Tl;dr - An excellent novel that I recommend highly. Whether you like humor, philosophy, need to read a classic for a challenge or just for street cred, whether you have an interest in reading a French novel - this book is good for so many purposes. Besides that, it is enjoyable and quick. Ward's new American translation is wonderful and I think captures a certain something that Gilbert's more British and more interpretive version missed. (Gilbert's version is the one I read in high school.) A book I would recommend to anyone who has even the slightest interest. The Stranger is a classic novel that has stood the test of time. It is a thought-provoking and engaging read that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Whether you are interested in philosophy, literature, or simply a good story, this book is well worth reading.

Ten years ago, I read this book for my French class in high school. To be honest, my previous experience was extremely boring, which led to a decade-long aversion to any work with the imprint of Camus.

   « Comme si les chemins familiers tracés dans les ciels d’été pouvaient mener aussi bien aux prisons qu’aux sommeils innocents »

However, my rereading turned out to be surprisingly more fruitful. 4 stars.

I am not the kind of person who likes a monotonous and detached pen. I like to be immersed in the various tumults and colors that the characters and landscapes can breathe through the pages. This is what bothered me a little when flipping through the first few chapters of « L’étranger ». Camus' tendency to transcribe only what is necessary, but the more I ventured into the story, the more the nonchalance of Meursault became intriguing. The concise and brief tone of the narration even took shape in the second part of the novel and kept me on the edge of my seat until the last line.

Meursault is this somewhat misunderstood character who is anything but conforming to social codes. Immersing oneself in the mind of such a complex and slightly simple character was not at all restful and in some respects, anything but pleasant. (For example: his mania for repeating 'l’Arabe' and 'les arabes' with an Olympic calm and detachment as if they all looked alike and that none of them aspired to a semblance of humanity from him more than once made my hair stand on end.)

“I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate.”
This is how the novel The Stranger concludes, suggesting that Meursault has only achieved freedom in his death. He has come to terms with the fact that death is the one certain aspect of human existence, and everything else is simply absurd and meaningless.

“ Have you no hope at all? And do you really live with the thought that when you die, you die, and nothing remains?
“Yes,” I said.
He truly was a stranger. All he ever desired was to fit perfectly into his own world, a world where he didn't have to carry the burden of existing according to the world's standards. He had his own unique world and reality, which were not accepted by the rest of society.

He was desperate to let go of any hope because hope implied a disconnect between who he should be and who he actually was.

“I didn’t like having to explain to them, so I just shut up, smoked a cigarette, and looked at the sea.”
“Since we’re all going to die, it’s obvious that when and how don’t matter.”
“You drink a language, you speak a language, and one day it owns you; and from then on, it falls into the habit of grasping things in your place, it takes over your mouth like a lover’s voracious kiss.”
I must confess that I had a strange sensation while reading this novel. I felt a certain unease, especially at the beginning. I often find myself feeling like a stranger, and I was waiting for the moment when I would truly identify with Meursault. Instead, I leveled the same accusation at him, intensifying his loneliness, and this sparked a thought in my mind.

When you are a stranger in the world, You are just a stranger.
I used to believe that you might encounter someone else who shares your feelings of alienation, but that is not always the case, especially with Meursault.

It was a great read, and I highly recommend that you set aside some time to pick it up and experience it for yourself.

El extranjero offers a piercing look at the existential absurdity through a stranger in his own land. Indifferent, he denies his being so that death becomes something already contemplated. It's a way to face the mystery of a meaningless afterlife and an apathetic life that is nothing more than a slow suicide.

Camus explores this in the impassiveness and neutrality of a protagonist with a concentrated anguish that manifests in a blunted conscience and an internal void filled only by self-complacency: solipsistic, individual happiness. Meursault is the definition of the self-dismissive due to an existential purpose lacking in reason. His ontological crisis develops in an almost total separation from any emotional dependence, as well as, though less frequently, from rational dependence.

Mortality is a fundamental part in El extranjero. The courtroom scene is a parodic representation of the illusory importance in the judgment of human acts. The moral prerogative granted to men by other men. Absurd, a role that only a dead god can declaim. A loop of senselessness in which the individual is condemned with equal force for stoicism as for murder.

Recommended.