literary analysis essay of the stranger

“The Stranger” by Albert Camus: Literary Analysis Essay

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Literary Analysis of The Stranger by Albert Camus

Literature has always been reflecting major trends in various spheres of social and political life at a certain period. Philosophical views also have an immense impact on the development of literary works which represent the core ideas of the epoch. The philosophy of existentialism emerged in Europe, sharing the ideas of individuality and freedom based on which people make decisions. Albert Camus is considered as existentialist, but he acknowledges his contributions to absurdism the basic principles of which are highlighted in his novel The Stranger .

Albert Camus is a famous author and philosopher who was born in the family of French expatriates in Algiers. He studied philosophy at the university so that after obtaining a degree he explored the concepts of existentialism in the middle of the 1930s and examined the principles of the absurdity of human existence several years later. Based on the analysis of the newly acquired philosophical ideas, Camus started to work on his first novel The Stranger .

It incorporates the ideas of absurdity which question the value and sense of human life depicted throughout the subjective experiences of the protagonist. He acts based on his prejudices and choices but realizes what he is doing and knows the value of words (Camus 100). In general, the literary works of the writer explore a search for justice, liberty, and faith in human dignity, disregarding the external factors and neglect of personal identity. Nevertheless, the philosophy of Camus states that people have enough opportunities to determine destiny by making deliberate choices but not chances determined by fate.

The themes of existentialism and absurdism are discussed in The Stranger , a novel about the man who considers the universe is pointless. Meursault, the protagonist, obviously lacks remorse when his mother dies so that his behavior is not typical during the funeral. When the caretaker invites him to the room, he drinks some coffee with milk and smokes (Camus 12). Such behavior is perceived as disrespectful and inadequate because people are usually upset when their family members pass away, while the main character remains unflappable.

Indeed, society is formed based on some ideological principles the neglection of which may lead to the disruptions and uncertainties in the system (Camus 101). Subsequently, the ideas of absurdism affect the audience because they define uncommon values associated with a differentiating behavior that expresses the inner self of the person rather than masks one’s true feelings and motivation for actions. In this case, the existentialism dogma questions the freedom of choice and juxtaposition of subjective and objective values.

The inner struggle between personal values and external expectations are clearly illustrated in the actions and thoughts of the protagonist. Camus admits that human beings form themselves based on their values and freedom of choice. Thus, Mersault takes his chance to fight with Arab and shoot him five times (Camus 59). This case proves that he is a man of a free will that is essential to support one’s human dignity.

Throughout the novel, the protagonist often refers to the power of the sun as the agent that usually provokes Meursault to lose temper and commit some unreasonable actions. Even during the examination when he is asked about the pause between the first and the second shot, the protagonist only reminds of the power of the burning sun on his forehead but could not explain anything (Camus 67).

The life of the main character is the sequence of random and impulsive choices that form his individuality. His values and preferences contradict the external social environment and identify him as a man with no remorse, lack of emotions, and moral premises. The concept of the stranger in the novel symbolizes an enemy of society who ignores fundamental rules (Camus 102). It means that the value of the freedom of choice and action is undermined by justice, ideologies, and moral principles that regulate social order.

Apart from the inability of the individual to resist the power of social regulations, and understanding of the role of religion constitutes another problem of existentialism discussed in The Stranger . The protagonist of this novel breaks the rules, declines the power of religion, questions the sense of life, but his mother said that happiness can be found in any aspect of life (Camus 113). Meursault is happy even before his death which makes him a respected hero of the existentialist philosophy.

Furthermore, he does not change his principles before execution so that during the last chaplain’s visit the protagonist confidently affirms that he still envisions no sense in religion (Camus 117). Despite rejecting the existence of God, Camus acknowledges that a world with no religion will be full of chaos so that everything would be uncontrolled due to no restrictions or moral regulations.

Overall, the themes of existentialism covered in The Stranger affect the audience by the irrationality of life and the inconsistency of the moral principles. The writer’s philosophy implies that people have enough freedom to determine their destiny by making deliberate choices. These actions form a particular individual through the evolvement of personal values that sometimes contradict social regulations and moral principles. Thus, the protagonist neglects the truth of religion, rebels against the rules, and lives an irrational life but declares himself happy, which makes him a respected existentialist hero.

Works Cited

Camus, Albert. The Stranger . Translated by Matthew Ward, Vintage, 1989.

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1. IvyPanda . ""The Stranger" by Albert Camus: Literary Analysis." December 13, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-stranger-by-albert-camus-literary-analysis/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . ""The Stranger" by Albert Camus: Literary Analysis." December 13, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-stranger-by-albert-camus-literary-analysis/.

The Stranger 

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The Stranger

Albert camus.

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Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Albert Camus's The Stranger . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Stranger: Introduction

The stranger: plot summary, the stranger: detailed summary & analysis, the stranger: themes, the stranger: quotes, the stranger: characters, the stranger: symbols, the stranger: theme wheel, brief biography of albert camus.

Historical Context of The Stranger

Other books related to the stranger.

• Full Title: The Stranger
• When Written: 1941?-1942
• Where Written: France
• When Published: 1942
• Literary Period: Modernist
• Genre: Philosophical novel
• Setting: Algiers, Algeria
• Climax: Meursault shoots the Arab.
• Antagonist: Raymond
• Point of View: First person (Meursault is the narrator.)

Extra Credit for The Stranger

An Existential Novel? Though The Stranger is often categorized as an existential novel, Camus himself rejected this label. Camus’ philosophy of Absurdism resembles Existentialism in many respects (both philosophies, for example, believe in the essential meaninglessness of life) but Camus was fiercely committed to human morality and dignity, ideas many Existentialists discarded.

Alternate Translations. The key sentence in Meursault’s final acceptance of death has been translated in several different ways, each of which shifts the line’s meaning. The edition on which this guide is based was translated by Matthew Ward and published in 1988. It translates the line: "I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world." The first English edition, translated by Stuart Gilbert and published in 1946, translated this line, "I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe." The second English edition, translated by Joseph Laredo and first published in 1982, translated the line, "I laid my heart open to the gentle indifference of the universe."

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The Stranger

By albert camus.

Published in 1942, The Stranger is Camus' most enduring literary achievement. It has baffled and troubled readers of all ages for decades as they try to contend with Meursault's approach to life, emotions, and consequences.

About the Book

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

The Stranger by Albert Camus is regarded as one of the finest examples of absurdist fiction ever written. Camus was one of the pioneers of this form of philosophy and used it as the guiding principle in the conception and creation of  The Stranger.  This novel is certainly his best-known work of fiction. The story follows Meursault, an unusual man living in Algiers who floats from one part of his life to the next without conviction or too much emotion. Meursault, like Camus, believes in the meaninglessness of life . This means that when presented with a choice, Meursault simply acts without worrying about the consequences or how that action might be perceived. 

Key Facts about  The Stranger

• Title:   The Stranger
• When/where written : 1941-1942
• Published: France
• Literary Period: Modernism
• Genre:  Absurdist, philosophical
• Point-of-View:  First-person
• Setting: Algiers, Algeria
• Climax:  The murder of the Arab on the beach.
• Antagonist:  Raymond, Meursault himself, the nature of life.

Albert Camus and  The Stranger

Today, Albert Camus (along with Soren Kierkegaard) is regarded as a leader of the existentialist movement . Specifically, absurdism; that is, the belief that life is essentially meaningless despite the human desire for it not to be.  Camus believed that human beings have three different ways that they might confront that meaninglessness. The first of these is to commit suicide or “escape existence.” It’s an option, neither Camus nor Kierkegaard believed was the right one. Second, one might turn to religion or spirituality to find a meaning that doesn’t really exist. One takes a “leap” into the unprovable in this scenario. Lastly, there is acceptance. One must acknowledge the absurd but continue to live. Camus believed that this last option was the best. It is only through accepting the absurd that one can experience their own freedom. (Kierkegaard vehemently disagreed.) While absurdism might seem at first only tangential to  The Stranger  it is in fact at the heart of the story. Meursault is a “stranger” to society . He doesn’t believe that life has meaning nor does he seek to create through relationships.

Books Related to  The Stranger

Directly related to  The Stranger  is Camus’ best-known philosophical essay,  The Myth of Sisyphus.  It was published the same year as  The Stranger  was finished and outlines his beliefs about absurdism and the nature of life. The essay is regarded as one of Camus’ finest works and often ranks alongside  The Stranger  on lists of his most important literary achievements. Although Camus is best-known for absurdism, there are other writers who also engaged with this philosophical idea. For example, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka in which Kafka presents an absurd scenario without explanation or reason–because there isn’t one. Kafka’s  The Castle  and The Trail  are also good examples.

The Lasting Impact of The Stranger

The Stranger  is Camus’ most enduring novel . Meursault’s story has confused and haunted readers of all ages, around the world for the eighty years since it was published. The book’s opening line, “Mother died, today” is instantly recognizable as is its closing line: “I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world”. Camus saw Meursault as someone who refused to play by the rules of society. He knows that there is no point to life, despite how others try to convince him, and he pays the price for it.

The novel is regarded as a classic due to the continued challenge of reading about Meursault’s life and trying to understand him as a person. It raises questions that are often uncomfortable to ask and even more so to answer. Most importantly perhaps, it forces readers to reassess the value they place on their interactions and choices .

The Stranger Review ⭐

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The Stranger

By albert camus, the stranger study guide.

Camus was influenced by a diverse collection of foreign authors and philosophies in the 1930s. The mood of nihilism was high. Nietzsche and Dostoyevsky had remained significant in thought since the turn of the century. German phenomenology was flowing into France. Sartre was struggling against the shallow rationalism of Cartesian thought. Faulkner, Hemingway, and Dos Passos were translated into French and many guess that their styles and concepts made their way into the philosophy of Camus at this time. These influences and moods helped formulate the philosophies of Existentialism and the Absurd as associated with Sartre and Camus. Due to Camus' working-class upbringing, he grows up with a suspicion toward idealism and introspection. He was never one to invest in dreaming. He was interested in living life and the struggle for meaning without the distraction of dreams and fabrications. Although Camus later tried to distance himself from the concept of Existentialism, critics still place him there and his own ideas were influenced by the forum of Sartre and other Existentialist philosophers of the time. According to Existentialism, man existed among and against other men in a brutal adventure to which one must give meaning through his actions. The Absurd deals more with the irresolvable paradox between objective judgment of an action and the subjective motivation behind its performance. The disappearance of truth and goals gives way to the absurdity of existence. Yet Camus too is concerned with the creation of meaning in a meaningless world through the process of living life. The mood of pessimism, which many would take from Existentialism and the Absurd, was strengthened by the political developments of the 1930s. The rise in power of the authoritarian dictators Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco had a harmful effect on the countries of Europe and did not bode well for the upcoming years. The authoritarian regimes solidified Camus as a stong supporter of the Left.

Camus fought stubbornly against war. One can notice the effects of malaise in Camus' earlier writings, reflecting the conflicts of war as well as Franco-Algerian tensions. Economic difficulties in Algeria had increased the conflict. Officially Arabs were equal citizens to the French but they were often treated as a conquered people. When the Popular Front failed to enact a plan increasing Arab franchise, radical Arabs moved toward Nationalism. Conflict existed too between French interests and the pied-noir's, who were also treated as second class citizens but needed French protection in order to compete for working-class jobs against cheap Arab labor. Meursault of The Stranger belongs to this group and one can understand his feelings toward French institutions as well as the tension between those of Arab and French origin in the story by taking this into account. The myths of the French-Algerian are evident throughout the novel, such as the notion that they live on the frontier, are pagans, are sexualized, live through their bodies and sport, and oscillate between indolence and intense emotion. Camus wrote of Arab issues in the paper, Alger-Republican, and campaigned for Arabs who had been wrongly accused. He also wrote of the inadequate French social policy concerning schools and medical care. It was at this time, he began writing The Stranger.

By 1939, Alger-Republican was campaigning heavily against the war. Camus placed hope in Neville Chamberlain and wanted concessions to be made. After the newspaper was banned in 1940, Camus left Algeria in search of a job. Working at Paris-Soir, Camus finished the manuscript of The Stranger by May of that year. During that time he also worked on the drafts of a play, Caligula, and an essay, The Myth of Sisyphus , which he felt, with The Stranger, would be parts of one whole, constituting the cycle of the Absurd. Camus revised The Stranger while living back in Algeria with his wife's family and then sent an edition to Lyon in April 1941 where Gallimard agreed to publish it. French publishers at the time however had to work with the German Propaganda Staffel and so censorship was an issue. The Occupation authorities found nothing damaging to their cause in the book and it was published as written. The first edition consisted of only 4,000 copies. Ironically, it was very well received in anti-Nazi circles and this support, along with Sartre's article on the novel, launched Camus' career. In the context of Occupation, the book was celebrated for its focus on the illegitimacy of authority, a world without values, and the primacy of the individual. It soon became a classic of French literature in many circles and Camus was quickly recognized as a great French/European writer of the 1940s.

The Stranger Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Stranger is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What philosophy of life does Meursault espouse at the beginning of the chapter? How have you seen him live out his philosophy?

Chapter Five begins by introducing the reader to a collision of Meursault's two worlds, the world of the work week and of the weekend. Raymond calls Meursault at work and Meursault is annoyed right away.At work, he is in the mode of his...

What explanation does Sintes give for the fight he has had with an Arab man- what isn't quite honest about the order in which he tells his story? How does Meursault react to the story and to Sintes' offer of friendship?

Meursault description of their friendship alludes to the fact that it is pretty one sided. Raymond confides quite a bit of information, calls Meursault at work, and extends weekend invitations.... Meursault is unfazed, he cannot connect.

What do the following quotes by Albert Camus mean to you?

Experience is intrinsic to learning. One must live it in order to understand.

Study Guide for The Stranger

The Stranger study guide contains a biography of Albert Camus, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Stranger
• The Stranger Summary
• Character List
• Part One, Chapters 1-3 Summary and Analysis
• Related Links

Essays for The Stranger

The Stranger literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Stranger.

• Nonconformity: Condemnation
• Irony Of The Stranger
• The Stranger: Existential Martyrdom
• The Effectiveness of Violence in The Stranger
• Truth Dawning: The Sun as a Symbol for Meursault's Awareness in Albert Camus' The Stranger

Lesson Plan for The Stranger

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Stranger
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• The Stranger Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Stranger

• Introduction