The Stranger’’ by A. Camus

‘’The Stranger’’ by A.Camus
Book review by Amirkulova Maxfuza
The Stranger is arguably the most popular work of French novelist, author and philosopher, Albert Camus. ‘’The Stranger ‘’ dramatizes the issues at the heart of existentalism . My mother died today . Or yesterday maybe ,Idon’t know. Albert Camus ‘s famous work ‘’ The Stranger ‘’ begins with these words. It is a short book , merely 120 pages , which you can quickly finish in one sitting. The story follows the life of its main character , Mersault ,as he goes from learning about his mother’s death to being tried for one of the most senseless murders in the history of literature . The novel unfolds through Mersault’s perspective , and is divided into two main parts – before he committed the crime, and after his arrest.The protagonist Mersault is not interested in anyting and does not love anyone . Mersault is not overly shocked as his mother is old and has been living in a home for the elderly . He accepts his death with coldness , performing all the ceremonies with indifference . At the funeral he doesn’t cry as he is actually more overcome with heat due to the hot Algerian summer than with grief . Mersault shoots a man , known as ‘’the Arab’’ for no apparent reason. After commiting murder, Mersault struggles against society’s attempts to manufacture and impose rational explanations for his attitudes and actions . This struggle is embodied by Mersault’s battle with legal system that prosecutes him. Mersault relationship with Marie , his involvement in Raymond’s affairs, his trip to Masson’s beach house, and his taking of Raymond’s gun are the choices Mersault makes that lead up to his killing of the Arab .The climax of the book takes place when Mersault is in his prison cell, awaiting death and obsessing about a loophole . What if there were some way he could escape the guillotine , he wonders? Could his appeal succeed ? Could he escape from prison? In the midst of these musings , Mersault is visited by a priest , who attempts to convince him to become a Christian and repent for his sins. Mersault is hostile, though. He argues that to believe in an afterlife would become tantamount to renouncing the value of the life he’s living. Lashing out at the priest , Mersault shows passion for the first time , defending the value of his life . Meaning is found in living , argues Mersault , and he will not give up on the meaning of his life just because he’s scared of dying . After the priest leaves , Mersault realizes that he’s happy- that living is a privilege , and that no atter when he dies, he will relish his moments of life.The whole purpose of the book is that he is viewed as a complete alien in society, but it is revealed later that he is happy that way and he would re live it if he could . He finds meaning in the hatred and misunderstanding that people put towards him but in the end he has meaning . He wants them to yell hate at his funeral because ironically it is what gave him purpose in the rest of his life and it is reason he is happy . Ironically people yelling hate at him shows that while he has lived a short life he is happy, they are going to live long and unhappy lives.