The Stranger (L’Étranger)

“Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don’t know.”

Part One

Meursault, a detached and indifferent French Algerian, receives news of his mother’s death and attends her funeral. He shows little emotion, observing the rituals with apathy. Returning to Algiers, he resumes his routine, going to the beach, meeting his neighbor Marie, and beginning a casual relationship with her.

Meursault also befriends Raymond Sintès, a shady local who asks for help writing a letter to lure back his mistress. Later, Raymond beats the woman, leading to police involvement. Meursault agrees to testify on Raymond’s behalf, further entangling himself in Raymond’s conflicts.

Part Two

Meursault, Marie, and Raymond go to the beach, where they encounter the mistress’s brother and his Arab friends. A tense confrontation occurs, and later, under the scorching sun, Meursault impulsively shoots one of the Arabs, killing him.

Arrested and put on trial, Meursault’s indifference becomes the focus. The prosecution paints him as a remorseless monster, citing his lack of grief at his mother’s funeral. His honesty about his emotions alienates the jury, and he is sentenced to death.

In prison, Meursault reflects on life’s absurdity. He rejects religious consolation, accepting his fate with cold clarity. In the final moments, he embraces the “gentle indifference of the world,” finding a strange peace in the meaninglessness of existence.

Key Ideas

• Absurdism: Life lacks inherent meaning, and human existence is indifferent to individual struggles.
• Existential Alienation: Meursault’s detachment from societal norms highlights the isolation of the individual.
• Free Will vs. Determinism: Meursault’s actions are both impulsive and inevitable, raising questions about agency.
• Moral Judgment: Society condemns Meursault not for the murder but for his emotional indifference.
• The Sun as Symbol: Represents oppressive forces that drive Meursault to violence.

Notable Adaptations