Short Summary
The Stranger by Albert Camus is about a man named Meursault who lives in Algiers. The story begins with Meursault learning about his mother’s death. He attends her funeral but shows little emotion. He then returns to his everyday life, which includes working, spending time with a woman named Marie, and befriending a neighbor named Raymond.
One day, Meursault gets involved in a conflict between Raymond and some local men, leading to a confrontation on a beach. In a moment of confusion and under the intense heat of the sun, Meursault shoots and kills one of the men, known as “the Arab.”
Meursault is arrested and put on trial, but the focus is more on his character and lack of emotion rather than the murder itself. His indifference to social norms and his atheism disturb the court. Ultimately, he is found guilty and sentenced to death. Throughout the story, Meursault struggles with the meaning of life and his place in the world, reflecting themes of existentialism and absurdism.
My Experience
I finally picked up The Stranger. I had long been curious about this book but always found it intimidating. Not because of its length, it’s actually quite short, but because of its reputation. Camus is known for his deep philosophical themes. He focuses especially on existentialism and absurdism and I wasn’t sure I’d manage to grasp it all. But to my surprise, the writing is very accessible and I didn’t feel lost in complex ideas.
This book also marks my entry for Algeria in my books beyond border reading challenge.
As I read, I found myself strangely drawn to Meursault, the protagonist. His apathy, his emotional detachment, it made me pause. I wondered if I saw myself in him. That realization made reading this book a little uncomfortable, but also very personal.
Part 2 shifted the tone. It became clear that Meursault wasn’t being judged for his crime as much as for not fitting into society’s mold. He didn’t cry at his mother’s funeral, and that made him guilty in the eyes of others. That idea stuck with me, how society punishes those who don’t show emotions the “right” way.
There’s a line in the book that says, “Hope is an illusion.” I don’t fully agree, but I understand where it’s coming from. Meursault finds peace not by hoping for a better outcome, but by accepting the reality of his situation. That reminded me of Viktor Frankl’s idea that we always have a choice in how we respond to life, even in suffering.
The final chapters were powerful. Meursault accepts death, not with fear, but with clarity. He sees the universe as indifferent, and somehow, that gives him peace. He realizes he’s not alone in his detachment—the world itself is detached. That moment, when he looks up at the stars and feels a connection to the “benign indifference of the universe,” was haunting and beautiful.
In the end, I didn’t agree with everything Meursault believed. But I appreciated the honesty of his perspective. This book didn’t just make me think, it made me reflect. And that, I think, is what great literature is supposed to do.
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