This review contains spoilers, I find it difficult to write about this story, sometimes called “The Stranger”, without them. In Camu’s short book Meursault, the modernist anti-hero meanders through life, commits an impulsive crime and is tried, the crime dividing the story in two halves.
Camus illustrates Meursault’s ordinary daily life in a vivid sun baked Oran, French Algeria. What the smooth first person narrative and dialogue reveals is a character indifferent, easy-going, harmless. As he progresses the questions increase, alienated, sociopathic? His ease is slowly, inevitably taken captive by circumstances, which leads to the shooting. He leaves clues, evidence behind, but it is all circumstantial, here-say, apart from the bare fact of murder (self-defence?) He imagines the others knife, “gouging into my eyeballs”.
At the trial Meursault does not defend himself, law and society increasingly condemn him for innocuous social behaviours seen to contributory. At the same time he does not seem self-deluded or in denial, but internally honest and rational. Is Camus drawing a flawed a Christlike figure? In the condemned cell scene he finally erupts in the face of the priest and comes to his own peace, “I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe”.
Paradox in Meursault’s behaviour leave him wide open to be condemned, to death. It is fascinating how his behaviour is exploited by those around him, when living normally and when on trial. The character is really holding a mirror up to society, here are your behaviours and ethics.
This is a terrifying story if you identify even slightly with Meursault, with influences from Dostoevsky, Kafka and Orwell. Its power must have been especially impactful and relevant in the 1940/50’s. A lot is achieved in a short space. As well as being classified as an existentialist classic, it is a great read.
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