Review: The Stranger

The Stranger by Albert Camus

translated from the French by Stuart Gilbert; first published 1942

ABOUT:
The title character of "The Stranger" is Meursault, who seemingly irrationally kills an Arab man. The story is divided into two parts: Meursault's first-person narrative view before and after the murder, respectively. (copied from Wikipedia)

MY THOUGHTS:
"The Stranger" is perhaps best understood and appreciated as a philosophical study, rather than as a novel. According to Wikipedia, "its content explores various philosophical schools of thought, including (most prominently and specifically) absurdism, as well as determinism, nihilism, naturalism, and stoicism." Unfortunately, I don't think I have enough knowledge of philosophy to form an honest opinion.

I didn't understand the character of Meursault at all. But perhaps that is because he is a bodily representation of a school of philosophy more so than a character?

There is none of the plot development that I would have expected. The murder isn't explained by a tragic childhood, or a deep dark secret, or a mental illness. Meursault commits murder...just...because. Again quoting Wikipedia, "In itself, his killing of the Arab man is meaningless, merely another occurrence that 'happens to' Meursault." Supposedly the motive isn't important. The murder is simply the event the propels Meursault into existential self-examination.

Light, especially sunlight, is mentioned with almost ridiculous frequency. Is this meant to be symbolic? If so, I never quite figured it out. Also, it's always hot. Always. The book takes place in Africa, which might explain it, but I also wondered if this was symbolic. Like, foreshadowing that Meursault is eventually going to burn in hell for both his atheism and his crime?

In summary, I think this statement from SparkNotes captures the essence of what Camus was trying to accomplish in "The Stranger":

Camus argues that the only certain thing in life is the inevitability of death, and, because all humans will eventually meet death, all lives are all equally meaningless. Meursault gradually moves toward this realization throughout the novel, but he does not fully grasp it until after his argument with the chaplain in the final chapter. Meursault realizes that, just as he is indifferent to much of the universe, so is the universe indifferent to him. Like all people, Meursault has been born, will die, and will have no further importance.

RATING
Honestly, it's hard to like a book that you don't understand, and even harder to like it when you don't agree with the philosophy upon which it was based. However, I will admit that Camus did accomplish his supposed goal - to write a novelization of his philosophic beliefs - and that the book is noteworthy for that reason.

2 Bookmarks - It was ok. Tolerable but forgettable.

I read this book for the Paris In July blog event.