The Stranger | Albert Camus | Cliff Note Books

“The Stranger” is a novel by Albert Camus, first published in 1942.

The novel follows the story of Meursault, a French Algerian who lives in Algiers. The novel opens with Meursault receiving news that his mother has died. Meursault travels to the nursing home where his mother has been living and attends her funeral. Throughout the novel, Meursault shows no signs of grief or emotion, which causes confusion and concern among those around him.

After the funeral, Meursault meets a woman named Marie and begins a romantic relationship with her. Meursault also befriends his neighbor, Raymond, who is involved in criminal activity.

One day, Raymond asks Meursault to help him write a letter to his girlfriend that will lure her back so he can abuse her. Meursault agrees to help, but later Raymond gets into a fight with the girl’s brother, who threatens to take revenge on him. Meursault accompanies Raymond to confront the brother at his home, and in the scuffle, Meursault ends up shooting and killing the brother.

Meursault is arrested and put on trial. During the trial, Meursault shows little remorse for the killing, which causes the prosecution to focus on his lack of emotion and his atheism. The novel ends with Meursault’s sentencing and his acceptance of his fate.

“The Stranger” explores themes of existentialism, morality, and the absurdity of human existence. Camus uses Meursault’s lack of emotion and his indifference to his own fate to critique societal expectations and the human condition. The novel is often seen as a classic of 20th-century literature, and continues to be studied and analyzed for its themes and style.

CHARACTERS

1. Meursault: The protagonist and narrator of the novel. Meursault is a French Algerian who is indifferent to the world around him, showing little emotion or interest in the events of his life.
2. Raymond Sintes: Meursault’s neighbor who is involved in criminal activity. Raymond befriends Meursault and asks him to help him lure his girlfriend back so he can abuse her.
3. Marie Cardona: Meursault’s girlfriend who he meets after his mother’s death. Marie is a sympathetic character who tries to connect with Meursault despite his emotional distance.
4. The Arab: A nameless character who is killed by Meursault. The Arab is seen as a symbol of the oppressed Algerian people.
5. Meursault’s mother: Meursault’s mother who dies at the beginning of the novel. Meursault shows little emotion at her funeral, which causes concern among those around him.
6. The prosecutor: The prosecutor who tries to prove Meursault’s guilt and uses his lack of emotion as evidence.
7. The magistrate: The magistrate who tries to get Meursault to confess to the killing and shows empathy towards him.
8. Masson: A friend of Raymond who lives near the beach where the killing takes place.
9. Salamano: An old man who lives in Meursault’s building with his dog.

QUOTES

1. “Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday; I can’t be sure.” (Chapter 1) – This opening line sets the tone for the entire novel, highlighting Meursault’s detachment and indifference to the world around him.
2. “I had only a little time left and I didn’t want to waste it on God.” (Chapter 1) – This quote highlights Meursault’s atheism and his rejection of religion and spirituality.
3. “I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world.” (Chapter 1) – This quote emphasizes Meursault’s embrace of the absurdity of the human condition and his acceptance of the meaninglessness of life.
4. “I realized that I’d been happy, and that I was still happy.” (Chapter 2) – This quote shows Meursault’s capacity for happiness and enjoyment of life, despite his general detachment and indifference.
5. “What I wanted was for the sun to stop shining.” (Chapter 2) – This quote highlights the oppressive nature of the sun and its symbolic significance throughout the novel.
6. “I realized that I had destroyed the balance of the day and the perfect silence of this beach where I had been happy.” (Chapter 3) – This quote shows Meursault’s regret over his actions and his recognition of their destructive potential.
7. “I looked up at the mass of signs and stars in the night sky and laid myself open for the first time to the benign indifference of the world.” (Chapter 4) – This quote highlights Meursault’s acceptance of his own fate and his recognition of the indifferent nature of the universe.

THEMES

1. Absurdity: One of the central themes in the novel is the absurdity of the human condition. Meursault’s lack of emotion and his indifference to his own fate highlight the arbitrary and meaningless nature of life.
2. Existentialism: The novel explores existentialist themes such as the search for meaning and purpose in life, the freedom of choice, and the individual’s responsibility for their own actions.
3. The human condition: The novel critiques societal norms and expectations, highlighting the human tendency to conform and the difficulty of living authentically in a society that values conformity.
4. Morality: The novel raises questions about the nature of morality and the role of ethics in human behavior. Meursault’s actions challenge conventional morality and highlight the complexity of ethical decision-making.
5. Alienation and isolation: Meursault’s lack of emotion and his inability to connect with those around him highlight the themes of alienation and isolation, and the difficulty of forming meaningful relationships in a society that values conformity.
6. Death: The novel explores the theme of death, both in the literal sense through Meursault’s mother’s death and the killing of the Arab, and in a more existential sense as a reminder of the fragility and transience of life.

SYMBOLLISM

1. The sun: The sun is a recurring motif throughout the novel and is often associated with Meursault’s lack of emotion and indifference to the world around him. The sun also symbolizes the absurdity of the human condition and the arbitrary nature of life.
2. The sea: The sea represents freedom and escape in the novel. Meursault often looks out at the sea and dreams of escaping from his life and the expectations of society.
3. The crucifix: The crucifix in Meursault’s jail cell represents religion and the role of faith in human life. Meursault is indifferent to the crucifix and shows no interest in religion or spirituality.
4. The court: The court represents the norms and expectations of society and the ways in which they can be oppressive and arbitrary. Meursault’s trial is a symbol of the way in which society tries to impose its values and beliefs on individuals.
5. The beach: The beach is the site of the killing of the Arab and represents the clash between Meursault’s individual desires and the expectations of society. The beach is also associated with freedom and escape, as Meursault dreams of leaving his life behind and starting anew.
6. The knife: The knife used to kill the Arab represents violence and the destructive potential of human behavior. It is also a symbol of Meursault’s lack of empathy and his indifference to the suffering of others.

AUTHOR

Albert Camus was a French-Algerian philosopher, writer, and journalist, born on November 7, 1913, in Mondovi, Algeria. He was the second son of Lucien Camus, a French colonial settler, and Catherine Helene Sintes, a Spanish woman. Camus grew up in poverty and lost his father in World War I when he was just one year old.

Despite his difficult upbringing, Camus was a gifted student and attended the University of Algiers, where he studied philosophy. In the 1930s, he became involved in the French resistance movement and joined the Communist Party briefly before leaving due to its authoritarian tendencies.

Camus’ literary career began in the 1940s, with the publication of his first novel, “The Stranger,” which was an instant success. He went on to write a number of other works, including “The Plague,” “The Fall,” and “The Myth of Sisyphus.”

Camus was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957, in recognition of his contributions to the literary world and his exploration of complex philosophical and existential themes.

Tragically, Camus died in a car accident on January 4, 1960, at the age of 46. Despite his short life, his work continues to be celebrated and studied today, and he is considered one of the most important writers and thinkers of the 20th century.

SUMMARIES

Chapter 1: The novel opens with the narrator, Meursault, receiving news that his mother has died. Meursault is a French Algerian who lives in Algiers and works as a shipping clerk. Meursault’s response to his mother’s death is characterized by a lack of emotion and indifference. He shows little interest in the funeral arrangements or in seeing his mother’s body, and spends most of his time observing the people around him.

Chapter 2: The chapter begins with Meursault attending his mother’s funeral. He is again shown to be indifferent to the events around him, including the religious rituals and the presence of his mother’s friends and family. Meursault becomes distracted by the heat and the sun, which he finds oppressive and overwhelming. After the funeral, Meursault goes back to his apartment and reflects on his life and the meaning of his mother’s death.

Overall, Part One establishes Meursault’s character as detached and indifferent to the world around him. The heat and the sun are recurrent motifs, reflecting Meursault’s inner state of mind and setting the tone for the rest of the novel. The death of Meursault’s mother is a key event that sets the narrative in motion and introduces the theme of mortality and the transience of life.

Chapter 1: The novel shifts to the day after the funeral, as Meursault spends the day swimming, napping, and enjoying the pleasures of life. Meursault meets Marie, a former colleague, and the two of them begin a romantic relationship.

Chapter 2: Meursault accompanies Raymond, his neighbor and friend, to a bar where they encounter two Arab men. Raymond has a history with one of the Arabs, who he believes has mistreated his girlfriend. After a scuffle, Raymond invites the Arab to his apartment, where he beats and abuses him.

Chapter 3: Meursault spends the day with Marie, enjoying her company and reflecting on the events of the previous day. In the evening, Meursault and Raymond encounter the Arab and his brother on the beach. A confrontation ensues, and Meursault ends up shooting and killing the Arab.

Chapter 4: Meursault is arrested and put on trial for the murder of the Arab. The chapter focuses on Meursault’s experiences in prison, including his interactions with his lawyer and his reflections on his own situation.

Overall, Part Two shifts the focus of the novel from Meursault’s internal world to the external events that lead to his arrest and imprisonment. The introduction of Raymond and his involvement in criminal activity foreshadows the violence that will come later in the novel. Meursault’s relationship with Marie provides a contrast to the violence and darkness of the other events in the novel, highlighting the tension between life’s pleasures and its darker side. The murder of the Arab is a turning point in the novel, setting the stage for Meursault’s trial and his confrontation with society’s expectations and values.