The Stranger by Albert Camus
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Book Reviews of The Stranger
Book Review: The meaning of Absurd
Summary: 5 Stars
Absurd, in the sense that Camus uses it, has less to do with the everyday notion of "ridiculous" or "non-sensical" as some reviews here suggest, but with the idea that we seek some universal, transcendental meaning for Life in a universe essentially devoid of meaning.
That Meursault is defined by many readers as "insensitive" or "bizarre" or "abnormal" simply reveals a basic need to categorize Meursault in a value system. However, this is precisely what Camus puts into question: assuming and applying values in a universe where values have no place or meaning is absurd. It is a futile gesture. This is what makes the court scene the absurdity it is, as it confronts someone who is evidently amoral and then condemns him in the name of all that is right and decent in society. "Right" and "decent" are the precious ideas we collectively fabricate for ourselves and maintain in order to help us feel that there is an essential order and justice in the universe and that there is a "right" and "wrong" distinguishable to all. But Camus book suggests--without denying the usefulness of such ideas--that this is a human thing: Meursault's actions (killing an Arab, not crying at his mother's funeral) are devoid of meaning ...from a universal perspective.
Everybody dies anyway, so what difference how and whether sooner or later? That's just the way things are.
Now, a thought experiment for those who keep Camus and his ideas at a safe reading distance: imagine witnessing a car accident...where children are involved. This happened to me in Madrid over 8 years ago, where I witnessed from a distance one maniac car tearing right through the car of a lone mother...with kids. The ramming car didn't stop: it just tore on. I shan't give any more details, as it is too painful. Now think, for a split second, how every feeling of horror, distress, and ultimately anger...the awfulness of it all. Then consider, if you can, the comforting stories offered by priest or psychologist to the remaining family. Perhaps you are the remaining kin. How profoundly inadequate and futile these must seem to cover one's sudden, naked exposure to the obvious indifference of the universe. Any attempt to give meaning to the event seems completely at odds with what suddenly, inexplicably happened. It just happened. That is all. The universe remains, unchanged. The word "tragedy" may provide an inadequate handle on events. But the senselessness, meaningless of it all has been glimpsed.
Book Review: AND FINALLY, THE STRANGER
Summary: 5 Stars
The Stranger might be a book that you've always heard about and never settled down to the actual joy of reading it. Now is a good time. It's fairly short weighing in at 123 pages but the awesome power of Camus' artistry is that he accomplishes exactly what he wants efficently. It is the story of Monsieur Meursault, an office worker in his 30's whose mother has just passed away. As the book opens he is travelling to the nursing home where she died. Much has been said of the coldness of the character but he feels guilt about his mother. Throughout the novel there are hints that he believes he killed his mother by putting her there. Meursault seems to have lost his connection with humanity. He behaves more like an automaton that a man. He goes to work, he makes friends, he has sex, but he does these things on automatic pilot. Who knows why he kills the stranger on the beach? Meursault would probably say "what difference did it make if I killed him or not?" Good and evil have become irrelevant to him. I do not see why on the back of the novel and in some reviews I have read it is said that he is drawn UNWITTINGLY into a senseless murder. I believe he did it to wake himself up from the big sleep he had sunk into. If he killed a man, it would prove he had an effect upon the world. He could wipe out a life. In these days when we have to put up with OJ and Timoty McVeigh, the trial scenes written in 1946 seem very prophetic of times to come. The lawyers are more interested in appearances and drama than they are in prosecuting or defending the accused. All you would have to do is include TV cameras in the courtroom scenes and substitute lethal injection for the guillotine and this novel couldve have been written in 2001. It would still have the haunting power. It is a beautiful book. I don't know if its one of the greatest ever, but it is great. One of the other disturbing images in here is an old man that lives in Meursault's building who owns this mangy looking mutt that he is always beating and cussing at. When the dog disappears the old man loses all purpose in his life. In his own way, he was showing love for the dog by torturing it. It's just another way of showing the lies we invent to hide the truth from ourselves. I think Meursault was the biggest liar of all. Brillant translation.Book Review: Existentialism or Condemnation?
Summary: 5 Stars
Camus' own summary on the book lies in this phrase "...J'ai résumé L'Étranger, il y a longtemps, par une phrase dont je reconnais qu'elle est très paradoxale : 'Dans notre sociéte tout homme qui ne pleure pas à l'enterrement de sa mère risque d'être condamné à mort.". Translated this means that in our society all men who do not cry at their mother's funeral risk to be condemned to death. Of course the death that Camus refers to is not physical death but rather spiritual death. The spiritual death that arrives because of the struggle for idividual survival. Humans are so involved in personal survival that neglect what might be considered important and humane. That is why Camus has said that ""L'absurde naît de la confrontation de l'appel humain avec le silence déraisonnable du monde.". The absurd (in this case the actions of Meursault) is a result of the confronation of a human cry with the indifference of the world. The world did not care about Mersault before the murder but it condemns him for it.The story revolves around this character (Meursault) who at his mother's funeral shows an indifferent attitude. Sitting on one side of the coffin he feels as if he is at a courtroom since all his mother's friends are sitting across from him. There is no grief that he feels, an attitude that he carries with him throughout his life. The same picture takes place at the end when he is sitting in front of a jury being judged after he has murdered a man for no apparent reason. He makes no apologies for his behavior because he finds no fault in his behavior. He is the sole judge of his actions and to him they are justified.
One think to consider is that this man is not a hypocrite. His indifference is evident in all aspects of his life and he never claims to be something that he is not. He is the product of the society that he lives in, so deep down I think that Camus with this book does not seek to condemn this man but rather the society that produces and promotes these emotions. Many people go through life as hypocrites and in essence they are not better than Meursault. Meursault defined his path based on his own views of morality and proper behavior which can be as correct as the ones of society in general.
Book Review: An very interesting character study...
Summary: 5 Stars
I think that The Stranger is a great book. Not only is this book an excellent departure from typical modern writing, it is also interesting in its own right. Meursault is one of the most interesting and well-fleshed-out characters I've ever read, and the book stays succinct, never becoming overlong or drawn-out. I actually felt Meursault's agitation on the beach, in the heat, with the light shining in his eyes; his annoyance in the cell with the chaplain. This book represents, to me, what can be done with a character if he's handled correctly, and even only as far as that this book is worth a lot. But it's interesting, too, which is definitely a plus. Overall, this book, short though it may be, is a welcome and worthy addition to my bookshelf.Textually, l'Etranger is quite a strange novel. It defies many typical writing standards, while putting exceptional emphasis on others. The novel is truly a character study, with the only world-building included solely to enhance the character. As such, the book probably won't be a favorite of the general populace any time soon, with the need of most people for description, details and heroes, characters that can be cheered for. Meusault, in any event, is certainly not much of a hero to root for.
Reading The Stranger, I found myself wondering what kind of person Albert Camus is (was?). I haven't read any of his other stuff, but I find it unlikely that he is much like Meursault in attitude, or the novel would never have been written. On the other hand, how did Camus delve so deeply into the mind of such a man if he's never experienced a similar mindset? Is Meursault an embodiment of Camus' fears for the human race, what with his passivity and easy acceptance of everything, or is he an embodiment of the author's hopes, in his simple honesty and naïveté? It would be interesting to find out where Camus got the idea for this particular personage.
In closing, I would just like to point out a couple of things. First, I do know that this is regarded as an existentialist, modernist classic piece and whatnot, but I decided to judge it against other contemporary fiction because I don't really know much about that other stuff. And finally, this is definitely a book worth reading even if you don't end up liking it.
Book Review: A foreigner in his own life
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't believe Albert Camus had any that idea that his novel `The Stranger' would be so popular and timeless when he wrote that book in 1946. It is not a fluke, but he didn't seem to have many aspirations and pretensions when writing this short, but amazing, book. In a nutshell, `The Strange' is the story of an Algerian, Mr. Meursault, who loses the strings of his life, and leads a flow of events decide his fate. The narrative begins of the death of his mothers. He is forced to go to the retirement house where she used to live and attend the funeral. In doing so, he feels strange, and doesn't seem to have any tender feeling toward his dead mother-- to the surprise of the local people. Later on he starts dating Marie --but notice he doesn't love her. It is just that it is easier to be with her, than being alone. He ends getting involved with Raymond --who seems to be not very honest. And in an unfortunate event he kills an Arab. That's when his life falls apart. Well, it would, if he was a normal person but he is not.
Camus has created a vivid --albeit lacking in energy and chutzpah -- character to be the protagonist of his novel. Meursault is not a normal person, however he is just the French average Joe of the mid 40s. He doesn't have many aspirations for his life; he lets the flow of events drive his life. The book is so well written that after a couple of pages you really feel upset with him. Is he incapable of showing feelings, or doesn't he have any feelings? These are questions raised throughout the novel, but it seems that the writer never came up with a plain answer to that, because it is not easy.
Like it is stated in the novel `Everything is true and nothing is true.' Like in life, it is nothing is really one thing. It all depends on a referential to what is true and what is not. Meursault seems to not have this referential. He simply doesn't care about being alive and governing his life. With this Camus shows all that generation angst. They seem to lack strong feelings, or even any kind of feelings.
`The Stranger' is one of the 20th Century classics, one of those books destined to be discussed forever-- because it generates so many different interpretations. More than book, it became a cultural event. It is a novel that deserves multiple readings.