The Stranger by Albert Camus - Book Review

What if you were deemed a monster by society? 

Albert Camus’s The Stranger raises this question in a philosophical way that urges you to rethink societal norms. In fact, this book is most probably going to stay with you for a while, as it is the type of story that makes you think and empathize with unlikeable characters.

Meursault, the protagonist of The Stranger, is somewhat of an enigma. We never really discover much about him, and he does not disclose details about his life to other characters as well. Meursault dominates the story, pushing all the other characters to the side.

From the opening scene where he displayed indifference towards his mother’s death, the reader can sense that there is something different about him. According to society’s norms, a person who does not grieve over the death of someone close is seen as an outsider, even a monster. In fact, Meursault does not react to events or show emotions in the same way other people do.

Although this makes him an intriguing protagonist at first, as Camus hints at him being a psychopath, you cannot help but feel a bit annoyed as the story progresses, since you never learn his motives. Apparently, Meursault does not have motives; he has this carpe diem perspective that just allows him to enjoy each moment without stressing too much about what might happen.

One of the biggest weaknesses of The Stranger is that it drags on a bit, especially in the first part, which makes you question whether Camus actually had a goal in mind. However, towards the end of Part I and the beginning of Part II, you cannot help but feel emotionally invested.

Actually, the story takes a sharp turn at the end of Part I, which leaves you gasping and excited to know where it will go. Unfortunately, you discover that there is not a real plot; The Stranger focuses on the philosophical concept of existentialism and whether life has a hidden meaning.

The dialogue can feel a bit pretentious at times, which can be attributed to the fact that it was translated from French. Yet, generally, the dialogue leaves something to be desired because all the other characters do not feel well fleshed out, perhaps because Meursault himself does not regard them as real people with feelings, dreams, and goals of their own.

If you are a fan of stories that are light on plot and heavy on philosophy, you will enjoy The Stranger. Just do not go into it expecting action-packed sequences or ground-breaking dialogue.