What makes a “stranger” so distant from ourselves? Perhaps this question would be too abstract for an existentialist such as Albert Camus, author of The Stranger, but it seems to be fitting after recently finishing this book. In the 21st century, the connotation of a stranger has a negative response. The brainwashing phrase “don’t talk to strangers” has many people high-tailing themselves away from the unknown.
The detached feelings of not personally knowing someone leaves one believing that they are better than this mysterious person. When reading The Stranger, many of my peers, including myself, could not relate to Meursault and his indifferent attitude towards his life circumstances. Is this the reason that Camus created the main character to be so uncaring or because we, as readers, cannot connect to an unreasonable murderer? Meursault’s crime of killing an Arab, seemingly without regret, is a foreign topic to many readers, one that many may not know how to react. His simple mannerisms and way of living seems to complicate the minds of readers and analysts alike. Some are sympathetic towards his predicament, while others believe he should be justly punished for his crime. Could those who want justice believe themselves to be better than Meursault? We, as readers, may believe that we are more elite than Meursault because we did not kill and are not awaiting an immediate death. In the same way, not naming the characters only described as “Arabs”, Camus creates a feeling of superiority over those that are attacked. The unnamed Arabs detach the reader from ever feeling sorry for the crime being committed because of a lack of connection; therefore many readers may feel that they are better off than a nameless Arab.
In my opinion, I believe that The Stranger changed my view of who exactly the elite are described to be. The book is deceptive in creating a feeling of superiority up until the end, when Meursault is honest with himself in knowing that he will be killed for killing. Although I may have thought of myself as better than Meursault throughout most of the book, his understanding of death creates equality among all people. Do elites really exist when the equality of death is imminent?
A thought-provoking post, Laura, and it responds so well to your original post. Isn't it exciting when a novel can change our perspectives as this novel has obviously done for you? I also really like your picture of the symbol of justice perverted by two hangman nooses!
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