Thoughts on Camus' The Stranger

By cosmiccat4595

I just finished the book and I’m kind of left weirded out, uncomfortable, and honestly with a ton of questions. I felt like I understood the main character in a lot of the situations, especially how he stays kind of distant, doesn’t show much emotion, and just seems indifferent about everything. It all feels like it could be reasonable, but at the same time it also comes off really empty. And it’s not only that he barely has emotions—it’s also his whole individual way of thinking. That’s what pushes him into committing a murder, and then he ends up in prison, which he clearly isn’t enjoying. Guess that “carefree” attitude doesn’t hold up forever. What do you even do when you live like that? Also, are feelings just something most people deal with as a burden or a hassle? Not constantly, but a lot of the time. Sometimes they don’t even seem to make sense, but if you don’t go along with them you’re basically treated like you’re inhuman. There’s that quote from Camus about the stranger: “Every man who doesn’t cry at his mother’s funeral runs a risk of being sentenced to death.” So yeah… I don’t know. How did the book hit you?