Recently read the book and was left confused, uncomfortable and with lots of questions.
I could relate to the main character in most of the scenarios- particularly his aloof nature, his lack of emotions, and his nonchalance in general.
His detached way of living seemed perfectly logical but it seemed very lifeless. This was not just because of his lack of emotions but also with having a very individualistic philosophy. This lead him to commit a murder, and ultimately, being imprisoned, which he didn't enjoy much. So much for a carefree attitude. What do you do then?
Are emotions an effort/burden for mostly everyone? Not all the time but most of the time. They don't make sense most of the time but you are doomed to be considered as inhuman if you do not consider them.
As Camus himself says about the stranger,
'Every man who doesn't cry at his mother's funeral runs a risk of being sentenced to death'
How did the book made you feel?
by shivamkimothi
2 Comments
Hi! Read it last year so my memory might pull a few tricks on me but! I think the title speaks for itself: the MC was living his life as a stranger to every person and every event. He was detached from it all, just observing from the sideways. The final monologue was the absolute fire, by the way. He was keeping to himself and living in his own world and the outside world decided to have none of that. He didn’t care about them but all of a sudden everyone cared about his way of living.
The book didn’t go all very smoothly for me, but it left a mark and a bitter aftertaste which is what I like about any form of art: when it makes you feel or/and think.
I expected literary content in this book but could not find it.
I don’t like such kind of books as our daily existence is sufficient to remind us about the strife.
What I really liked in this book was the experience of the protagonist in the prison. Without having anything to do, he could recollect the most deepest memories from his brain.