Camus
The Stranger by Albert Camus is one of the more interesting novellas I have read recently. The first thing that struck me about the book was when I was on page 8 and I realized that everything was in the first person. I thought this was going to be a problem for me but it turned out that it was like one of those movies that have the black line across the top and bottom of the screen, at first I felt it would wreck the whole book, but after the first chapter, I did not even notice. Camus paints a man who struck me to have several of the same qualities as Melville's Bartlby The Scrivener. The main character Maursault has a sort of an aloof take on life, or it would seem. He describes his life and gives a basic setting for the story. Maursault is the type that is upset by the things in life that everyone else can deal with. Things like the sun, the heat, reflection, and other people talking are things that get under his skin. He is however not upset by things like his mother's death, his friend putting a beating on his woman, and his charge of murder. In this way he parallels Bartelby because neither seems to care what happens to them and neither seems to be bothered by anything of magnitude. Bartelby reaches a poi
Even when he is at his mother's funeral, the things that bother him the most are the walk to the Vigil, the whistling of an old mans nose, and the tapping of their canes on the ground. He shows no sorrow about his mother's death and indeed doesn't spend any time remorse; he simply goes on with his life because that is what is most convenient for him to do. He then goes on a date with his girlfriend Marie. This gesture seals the friendship in Raymond's mind, but could really not mean less to Maursault. He was too stubborn to even fake remorse in order to win the jury over or at least lighten his sentence. While he is in his neighbors Raymond's house he is enjoying food wine and cigarettes, this keeps him content until his neighbor keeps rattling on about his own life, Maursalt becomes discontented and yearns for him to change the subject. Maursalt goes with his neighbor to the police station and lies about what happened. He does not even show any inkling of sadness. The story ends on the eve that Maursault is to be put to death. He does not adhere to the guidelines of his job and is subsequently fired. He enjoys the food at Celeste's restaurant, he enjoys making love to his girlfriend, and he enjoys the sun and surf. Only things, which bring him quick pleasure, are held in regards with Maursault. He refuses to stop coming to work and is put in jail. If something gets in his way in the past, he would either go to sleep or ignore it. He lives his life only in the present.
Common topics in this essay:
Bartlby Scrivener,
Albert Camus,
lost live,
completely lost live,
mother's death,
completely lost,
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Acceptance Essays
