The Stranger by Albert Camus

Society expects everyone to be the same. The same moral standards, the same moral and emotional reactions, the same desires, and so on. Out of the blue, if someone does something different, almost like a mob, people gang up and bash the person. You can expect the same reaction if someone is different, too.

The Stranger by Albert Camus follows the story of a murderer who is prosecuted more for his lack of reactions to things than the actual murder he committed. Earlier in the story, we get to know that the protagonist’s mother passed away, and his ‘lack of emotional reaction’ (no crying and no sobbing) is observed by people. And later in the story, the very same people turn against him.

Albert Camus introduces his philosophy of absurdism. He believes that life is absurd and there is no inherent meaning and purpose to life. He says we shouldn’t look for one. He uses the sun as a metaphor in the story. The sun represents the pressure of societal expectations and standards on the protagonist. Strangely enough, he commits the murder under a blazing sun that almost blinds him.

There are so many layers to the story. I don’t think I understood it completely. Perhaps in the next read, I might. Overall, The Stranger is a compelling and thought-provoking read. He questions our beliefs and what we think is true. I loved the writing. I cannot wait to explore other works of his.