The Stranger

The Stranger

By: Albert Camus

The Outsider or The Stranger (French: L’Éstranger) is a novel by Albert Camus published in 1942. Albert Camus was a French-Algerian journalist, playwright, novelist, philosophical essayist, and Nobel laureate. Though he was neither by advanced training nor profession a philosopher, he nevertheless made important, forceful contributions to a wide range of issues in moral philosophy in his novels, reviews, articles, essays, and speeches—from terrorism and political violence to suicide and the death penalty. He is often described as an existentialist writer, though he himself disavowed the label. He began his literary career as a political journalist and as an actor, director, and playwright in his native Algeria.

The Stranger’s theme and outlook are often cited as exemplars of Camus's philosophy of the absurd and existentialism, though Camus personally rejected the latter label.

The Stranger is Mersault, the narrator and protagonist of the novel. He suffers alienation from himself and the world. His narrative is divided into two parts. Part I deals with the routine affairs of Mersault, except for two key events. The story begins with the death of Mersault’s mother. Since he is an average man who earns barely enough for himself, Mersault sent his mother away to a Home for the Aged in Marengo, an action that brought him criticism. Then when he attends the funeral of his mother, he finds that he does not feel much grief; neither is he concerned about observing the social formalities of mourning. The day after his mother’s funeral, Mersault becomes involved in an affair with Marie, who was once a typist in his office. They swim together, have lunch, watch a comic film, and make love. The society is horrified at his refusal to observe a period of mourning for his mother. He is called "uncouth," "insensitive," and a "social monster". Part I also reveals Mersault’s involvement with Raymond Sintes, his neighbor who works as a pimp. Raymond has beaten has girlfriend for cheating on him, but he wants to punish her further. He persuades Mersault to write a scathing letter to her on Raymond’s behalf. The result of the letter is another confrontation between the girl and Raymond in which he beats her brutally. Mersault agrees to testify in Raymond’s behalf, saying that he was provoked by the girl into the confrontation. Mersault also agrees to travel with Raymond to the beach house of Masson, Raymond’s friend. At the beach, they encounter two Arabs, one of whom is the brother of the beaten girlfriend. A fight ensues, and Raymond is stabbed in the arms and mouth. Mersault is drawn into the conflict and winds up killing the Arab brother. It is the second key event of Part I. Both the death of his mother and the murder of the Arab have a direct bearing on the events of Part II.

Mersault is arrested and imprisoned for the murder. He is not worried about his case, for he feels the jury will understand how the shooting was not intentional. He does not hire his own attorney, but accepts the court appointed one. When the attorney tries to get Mersault to slant the truth about his reactions to his mother’s death, he refuses, for Mersault values honesty and is true to himself. He also fails to see the relationship between his case and his feelings for his mother. Mersault also refuses to see the chaplain, who eventually barges in to Mersault’s cell. When Mersault refuses to confess his guilt and beg forgiveness, the chaplain reacts with disbelief. When he tires to pray for Mersault, he screams at the chaplain. In a similar manner, he refuses to react to the crucifix that the magistrate shows him and reveals that he does not believe in God. The magistrate believes that he has never met a more taciturn, self-centered, naïve, honest, and blunt criminal. He also thinks that Mersault is so hard-hearted that he must be an "antichrist." The jury has the same reaction to Mersault. They do not comprehend any of his explanations and feel that his lack of emotion and remorse is inhuman.

The Stranger ends in tragedy when Mersault is sentenced to die by the guillotine. His lack of emotion and his detachment about life convince the jury that his life should not be spared.