Read: 1/19/2021 – 1/26/2021
You might love this if you’re looking for: Classic literature, philosophy, and existentialism.
You might not love this if you’re looking for: Optimism, in any sense.
The spoiler free synopsis of this novella is: Meursault doesn’t really care about anything because nothing really matters. He doesn’t care about anyone – not even himself, really – and has no consideration for how his actions impact others. He believes life is ridiculous and pointless and then you die.
– Synopsis with Spoilers Starts Here: (WordPress doesn’t seem to like spoiler tags without paying) –
Meursault, the main character of The Stranger, is the physical embodiment of existentialism. Upon receiving word of his mother’s death, Meursault does not show grief or sadness, but rather he spends her funeral thinking about how old her companions were and how hot of a day it was. When his neighbor beats a girlfriend and asks Meursault to testify that she had it coming, Meursault does it – simply because he was asked to, with no concern about what is right or wrong. He agrees to marry his own girlfriend because she wants to get married and it doesn’t matter to him.
Meursault later goes on to kill a man because it was hot and he was irritable. The prosecution deems him a soulless monster and Meursault is unfazed by his incarceration. Even with his impending death sentence, which finally gets him to do the tiniest bit of reflecting on his life, he doesn’t really care. (Because we all die sometime, right?)
/endspoilers.
OveralI, I think it’s safe for me to say that The Stranger by Albert Camus, and existentialism as a world view and philosophy, are not for me. I pretty actively disliked this book, if I’m completely honest. I find Meursault and his entire outlook on life to be selfish and juvenile. To go about one’s existence without ever taking into account how your actions impact anyone else because “Hey, we all die anyway, right?” is just not something I can easily wrap my head around. Perhaps I am too optimistic or too empathetic, but more often than not, I found myself frustrated with the main character and appalled by his actions (There was lots of “Who even does that!?” on my end.).
While I can appreciate the text as an exploration of existentialism and I enjoyed the minimalistic writing approach, I don’t think this is a book I will ever revisit. I lean toward thoughtfulness in life and this book left me feeling a bit defeated. The main character was so exceptionally unlikeable to me and, despite its merit, I don’t need to experience this again.
I know some may think highly of this book, but for me it really just solidified that this is not how I choose to live life.
Your mileage with Camus may vary. Proceed at your own risk.
