Title: The Stranger
Author: Albert Camus
Book # : 116
Book # : 116
Type: Novel
Genre: Existentialism
Year: 1942
Publisher: Penguin
Country: French Algeria
Language: French
Translator: Stuart Gilbert
Media: Paperback
Pages: 120
Rating: 10
I must admit that I was apprehensive re-reading this
classic of existentialism, as I was profoundly affected (in a depressing
manner) when I first read this novel in my 20's. Back then I found
the protagonist STRANGE and his world view to be bleak and depressing.
Perhaps it was the scary absurd notion and central theme of this book that life has no meaning. In a God-less universe, how does one live? With no rules whatsoever. Everything is permissible, including killing another human being for no justifiable reason. Blaming it on the sun just doesn't make any sense!
However, even though there are no 'rules' or guiding principles per say, and in such a world any behavior is seemingly allowable, one must be willing to pay the consequences for one's action. In the 'Stranger,' the price paid is of the worst kind! I was very very depressed after reading this book. Existentialism to me did not offer a positive or even viable philosophy! Nonetheless, I realized this novel was unique, one-of-a-kind, portraying life in a new albeit harsh light.
This is the primary challenge with the novel. The principle character Meursault is completely unlikable. He has no purpose in life, drifting from work to play on the beach. He appears distant and displays very little emotion. In fact, he is on trial for this deficiency. In the end, he is convicted NOT for killing an Arab repeatedly in cold blood (made famous by the Cure song), but for not crying at his mother's funeral. He is deemed a threat to society and punished accordingly.
That was then. Today, more than 20 years later, I have a very different perspective. Camus was way ahead of his time. He is writing about the new Modern Man who has lost his way. In this era of fierce Individualism and Reality Show freaks, Meursault would hardly register. He is accurately describing disaffected narcissist nihilistic hedonist Youth in our age of Internet, Twitter and Facebook. Even though Camus was describing conditions following Nazi Germany's atrocities on humankind and the senselessness of life, today technology has made us all 'comfortably numb.' Too many headlines abound today of young teenagers perpetrating heinous crimes or murder for no justifiable reason. For me, it started with 'wilding' murders in New York city in the 80s. What a shame!
I understand Meursault much better today than I did more than 20 years ago. He found meaning for his existence in the purely physical world - his love of nature, cigarettes, sex. The sun is seen as a force that causes him great discomfort (mother's funeral, blinding reflection off knife on the beach) and ultimately leads to his downfall. I now feel pity towards him rather than revulsion. A life without purpose is hollow and empty. Despite all the modern distractions, people are very lonely and screaming for attention and love. In the words of Socrates many many years ago, "the unexamined life is not worth living."
Perhaps it was the scary absurd notion and central theme of this book that life has no meaning. In a God-less universe, how does one live? With no rules whatsoever. Everything is permissible, including killing another human being for no justifiable reason. Blaming it on the sun just doesn't make any sense!
However, even though there are no 'rules' or guiding principles per say, and in such a world any behavior is seemingly allowable, one must be willing to pay the consequences for one's action. In the 'Stranger,' the price paid is of the worst kind! I was very very depressed after reading this book. Existentialism to me did not offer a positive or even viable philosophy! Nonetheless, I realized this novel was unique, one-of-a-kind, portraying life in a new albeit harsh light.
This is the primary challenge with the novel. The principle character Meursault is completely unlikable. He has no purpose in life, drifting from work to play on the beach. He appears distant and displays very little emotion. In fact, he is on trial for this deficiency. In the end, he is convicted NOT for killing an Arab repeatedly in cold blood (made famous by the Cure song), but for not crying at his mother's funeral. He is deemed a threat to society and punished accordingly.
That was then. Today, more than 20 years later, I have a very different perspective. Camus was way ahead of his time. He is writing about the new Modern Man who has lost his way. In this era of fierce Individualism and Reality Show freaks, Meursault would hardly register. He is accurately describing disaffected narcissist nihilistic hedonist Youth in our age of Internet, Twitter and Facebook. Even though Camus was describing conditions following Nazi Germany's atrocities on humankind and the senselessness of life, today technology has made us all 'comfortably numb.' Too many headlines abound today of young teenagers perpetrating heinous crimes or murder for no justifiable reason. For me, it started with 'wilding' murders in New York city in the 80s. What a shame!
I understand Meursault much better today than I did more than 20 years ago. He found meaning for his existence in the purely physical world - his love of nature, cigarettes, sex. The sun is seen as a force that causes him great discomfort (mother's funeral, blinding reflection off knife on the beach) and ultimately leads to his downfall. I now feel pity towards him rather than revulsion. A life without purpose is hollow and empty. Despite all the modern distractions, people are very lonely and screaming for attention and love. In the words of Socrates many many years ago, "the unexamined life is not worth living."
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