It is an example of existentialism and absurdism, in the way that existentialists believe that individual lives and human existence have no rational meaning, but humanity attempts to find rational meaning where there is none. For example, turning to religion to give their lives a purpose or meaning. They also believe that the only certain thing in life is death. This is shown in the final chapter, when the main character, Meursalt, gives up false hope of escaping jail, and becomes truly happy knowing he is facing death.
The book is written in the perfect present tense. Thinking about the past results in guilt, and thinking about the future results in dread. Meursalt does not feel guilty about his past, showing no emotion at his mothers funeral, or over the murder he commits. He also does not dread the future, he is indifferent about marrying his girlfriend, and does not worry about the consequences of his actions. He only feels through his senses.
Meursalt is completely honest throughout the entire book. He rejects religion, even when he is facing certain death, because as mentioned above, he believes as an existentialist, that human existence has no rational meaning.
The characters in the book watch and observe others, especially Meursault. He spends an entire afternoon watching out of his window at other people in the street.
In the afterword, Camus says: "A man who doesn't cry at his mothers' funeral is liable to be condemned to death. The hero of the book is condemned because he refuses to lie. Lying is not only saying what isn't true, it is also saying more than is true, saying more than one feels. Meursault says what he is, he refuses to his feelings and society feels threatened."
The text can be found here: http://www.macobo.com/essays/epdf/CAMUS,%20Albert%20-%20The%20Stranger.pdf
I would recommend it to anyone reading this blog, as it is an interesting read, as well as insightful into existentialism.
No comments:
Post a Comment