I want to talk about a book I’ve recently read. The book is called “The Stranger” and the author of the book is very well known French philosopher Albert Camus. The Stranger is a philosophical novel that mainly focuses on how absurd life is. It tells the story of Meursault, an emotionally numb man who is sentenced to death for a crime which he did not commit. The story is set in Algeria and follows Meursault’s journey of self-discovery and his eventual understanding of how life is meaningless.
The plot of The Stranger is straightforward. It follows Meursault’s trial, imprisonment, and execution. Camus’s metaphors throughout the novel adds to its overall meaning which I found very fascinating while reading the book. And his descriptions of the Algerian landscape and culture are captivating, powerful and unique.
The characters in The Stranger are hard to understand and their complexity sometimes confused me while I was reading. Meursault’s detached behavior and lack of emotion, reflect the absurdity of his life. His interactions with others show the isolation and depression that results from this detachment. Furthermore, the other characters, such as Marie, his mother, Raymond add depth to the story and excites the reader to explore more about the Meursault’s actions.
The overall themes of The Stranger are existentialism and nihilism. Camus uses them to explain man’s search for meaning in a meaningless world. He wants his readers to think deeply about their own lives and wants them to question its meaning.
The Stranger is an impressive work that is thought-provoking and captivating. Camus’s use of language, along with his fascinating descriptions of the landscapes, make this novel one of a kind. The characters are complex, and the themes of existentialism and nihilism are explored in a unique way. While the novel has some flaws, it is a powerful work that deserves to be read. I highly recommend The Stranger to anyone who is interested in philosophy like me and looking for a thought-provoking novel.