"The Stranger" by Albert Camus delves into the existentialist and absurdist themes prevalent in French literature, set against the backdrop of colonial Algeria. Through the protagonist, Meursault, Camus explores the depths of alienation, portraying a man detached from societal norms and the conventional moral code. Meursault embodies indifference, facing life with a sense of nihilism and an absence of empathy towards others. His existence is marked by isolation, reflecting the existentialist idea of the absurdity and meaninglessness of life. The narrative takes a philosophical turn as Meursault confronts death and the inevitability of mortality, leading to a dramatic courtroom trial where his lack of emotional response is scrutinized. The absence of a traditional moral compass and the disregard for societal expectations propel the story forward, culminating in a powerful examination of human existence. Set in colonial Algeria, the novel intertwines themes of crime and existential philosophy, creating a compelling portrayal of a man navigating a world devoid of inherent meaning. "The Stranger" stands as a testament to Camus' exploration of the human condition and remains a cornerstone of existentialist literature.
Albert Camus was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, journalist, international federalist, and political activist. He was 44 years old when he received the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the second-youngest recipient in history. His works include The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Fall, and The Rebellion. Camus was born in Algeria during the French colonialism to pied-noir parents. He grew up in an impoverished district and later studied philosophy at the University of Algiers. He was in Paris when the Germans invaded France in 1940 as part of World War II. Camus attempted to flee but eventually joined the French Resistance, where he served as editor-in-chief of Combat, an illegal journal. Albert Camus was born on November 7, 1913, in a working-class suburb of Mondovi, French Algeria. His mother, Catherine Helene Camus, was French with Balearic Spanish descent. She was deaf and uneducated. He never met his father, Lucien Camus, a poor French agricultural worker who was killed in combat while serving with a Zouave regiment in October 1914, during WWI. Camus, his mother, and several relatives grew up in Algiers' Belcourt neighborhood without many basic material goods. Camus was a second-generation French resident of Algeria, a French territory from 1830 until 1962.
