The Stranger is by Albert Camus and was published in 1942. The theme and outlook of the book is cited as examples of existentialism although Camus himself didn't consider himself as an existentialist. The content explores various philosophical schools of thought including absurdism as well as determinism.
The story is divided into two parts, Meursault's first person narrative view before and after the murder. Irrationally he kills the Arab man who he recognises in French Algiers. The first part is where Meursault learns of his mothers death. He doesn't want to view his mothers body so instead he sits next to the coffin smoking and drinking coffee. He doesn't express his own feelings he concentrates on commenting to the reader about other people at the funeral. Marie is a former employee of his firm and the two become re- aquatinted and begin to have a sexual relationship.
Meursault helps Raymond write a letter to his girlfriend to invite her over so that Raymond can have sex with her, kick her out at the last minute as emotional revenge.
The letter works and the girlfriend returns where she slaps Raymond and in return he beats her. Raymond is taken to court for this where Meursault testifies that she had been unfaithful and Raymond is let off with a warning.
The girlfriends brothers and their Arabs friends confront him at a party that Rayond invited Meursault and Marie to as it was at his friends beach house. The brothers and Arab friend wound him with a knife during a fist fight over the way he treated their sister.
Meursault took a revolver from Raymond so he didn't do anything stupid with it and encounters the Arab when walking along the beach. He is disorientated and on edge and when the Arab flashes a knife at him Mersault takes no hesitation in shooting. He ends up killing the Arab man and continues to shoot the corpse four more times. He doesn't feel anything inside emotionally as he does this.
In part 2 it starts with Meursault explaining his arrest and time in prison and his upcoming trial. He passes the time sleeping or mentally listing objects he owned back at his apartment. During his trial the jury concentrate more on Meursault's inability and unwillingness to cry at his mothers funeral rather than the actual murder he had committed where he lacked remorse and guilt. It explains that he can't feel any remorse or personal emotions for any of his actions in life. He is told he deserves to die for his crime and is labelled a soulless monster. The judge eventually decides he will be decapitated publicly.
In prison he meets with the Chaplain and rejects the idea of turning to God. He believes he is a waste of time but the Chaplain persists in attempting to lead Meursault from his atheism. He gets in a right rage and in an outburst of frustration and absurdity of human condition and personal anguish at the meaningless of his existence without respite. He mentions other people in anger and says that they have no right to judge him, his actions or who he is. He believes that no one has the right to judge someone else.
He grasps the universe indifferences towards human kind as he comes to turn with the execution and hoping a large crowd of spectators are at the day of his execution and they greet him with howls of execration.
A recap of the characters-
Meursault is the French Algerian
Raymond is the neighbour of Meursault who beats his girlfriend and causes conflict with the Arabs
Marie works at the same place as Meursault and enjoys their sex life and plans to marry Meursault before his arrest.
The story is divided into two parts, Meursault's first person narrative view before and after the murder. Irrationally he kills the Arab man who he recognises in French Algiers. The first part is where Meursault learns of his mothers death. He doesn't want to view his mothers body so instead he sits next to the coffin smoking and drinking coffee. He doesn't express his own feelings he concentrates on commenting to the reader about other people at the funeral. Marie is a former employee of his firm and the two become re- aquatinted and begin to have a sexual relationship.
Meursault helps Raymond write a letter to his girlfriend to invite her over so that Raymond can have sex with her, kick her out at the last minute as emotional revenge.
The letter works and the girlfriend returns where she slaps Raymond and in return he beats her. Raymond is taken to court for this where Meursault testifies that she had been unfaithful and Raymond is let off with a warning.
The girlfriends brothers and their Arabs friends confront him at a party that Rayond invited Meursault and Marie to as it was at his friends beach house. The brothers and Arab friend wound him with a knife during a fist fight over the way he treated their sister.
Meursault took a revolver from Raymond so he didn't do anything stupid with it and encounters the Arab when walking along the beach. He is disorientated and on edge and when the Arab flashes a knife at him Mersault takes no hesitation in shooting. He ends up killing the Arab man and continues to shoot the corpse four more times. He doesn't feel anything inside emotionally as he does this.
In part 2 it starts with Meursault explaining his arrest and time in prison and his upcoming trial. He passes the time sleeping or mentally listing objects he owned back at his apartment. During his trial the jury concentrate more on Meursault's inability and unwillingness to cry at his mothers funeral rather than the actual murder he had committed where he lacked remorse and guilt. It explains that he can't feel any remorse or personal emotions for any of his actions in life. He is told he deserves to die for his crime and is labelled a soulless monster. The judge eventually decides he will be decapitated publicly.
In prison he meets with the Chaplain and rejects the idea of turning to God. He believes he is a waste of time but the Chaplain persists in attempting to lead Meursault from his atheism. He gets in a right rage and in an outburst of frustration and absurdity of human condition and personal anguish at the meaningless of his existence without respite. He mentions other people in anger and says that they have no right to judge him, his actions or who he is. He believes that no one has the right to judge someone else.
He grasps the universe indifferences towards human kind as he comes to turn with the execution and hoping a large crowd of spectators are at the day of his execution and they greet him with howls of execration.
A recap of the characters-
Meursault is the French Algerian
Raymond is the neighbour of Meursault who beats his girlfriend and causes conflict with the Arabs
Marie works at the same place as Meursault and enjoys their sex life and plans to marry Meursault before his arrest.
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