The Stranger by Camus: A Guide to Absurdism in Just 120 Pages
Introduction: A Man, a Funeral, and a Philosophy That Changed the 20th Century
"Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know." With this chillingly indifferent opening line, Albert Camus’s The Stranger (L’Étranger) plunges readers into the detached mind of Meursault—a man whose indifference to life, death, and societal expectation unsettles us from the very first paragraph. But what seems at first like cold nihilism is, in fact, something far deeper: the birth of Absurdism in literature.
It’s rare for a book barely over 120 pages to redefine an entire philosophical movement. And yet, The Stranger has done just that. Since its publication in 1942, it has stood as one of the most powerful explorations of existential thought, resonating with readers from all backgrounds—including curious college students in Berkeley, philosophy fans in Oakland, and French learners across San Francisco and San Jose.
So why does The Stranger matter today? Why do people still talk about this novel when they discuss the meaning of life—or the lack thereof? Because in a world that often feels chaotic and incomprehensible, Meursault’s absurd gaze offers a radical mirror. Through Camus’s sparse, lucid prose, we come face to face with a central question: What happens when the universe no longer makes sense—and how do we live inside that truth?
In many ways, Meursault feels like an ordinary man placed in extraordinary circumstances, and yet his emotional detachment turns the mundane into something strange. He eats lunch, goes swimming, falls into a relationship, and attends his mother’s funeral—all with the same flat affect. What shocks us is not what he does, but what he doesn't do. He doesn't cry. He doesn't lie. He doesn’t even try to appear normal. This creates a jarring contrast to the emotional performances society often expects.
And that’s the brilliance of Camus’s work: by presenting a protagonist who neither conforms nor rebels in the conventional sense, he draws our attention to the roles we perform every day. Why do we wear black at funerals? Why do we cry in public even when we feel numb inside? Why do we feel obligated to explain ourselves when we aren’t sure how we feel? Meursault challenges all of these assumptions—not to be provocative, but simply because he lives authentically in the moment.
The backdrop of the novel—French colonial Algeria in the 1940s—adds yet another layer of tension. Camus, born and raised in Algeria, infuses the setting with a haunting sensory richness: the blinding heat of the sun, the scent of salt and sweat, the stillness of the sea. Every image serves not only to ground the story, but to press against the boundaries of rational thought. The natural world doesn’t care whether we grieve, kill, or pray—it simply exists. In this way, nature itself becomes a silent partner in Camus’s philosophy.
For readers in the Bay Area—where cultural critique, political protest, and personal exploration run deep—The Strangercontinues to resonate. In Berkeley’s campus cafés and San Francisco’s independent bookstores, you’re likely to hear conversations about existentialism and the absurd. The novel’s power lies in its refusal to offer comfort. It offers honesty instead. And in our current moment—marked by global uncertainty and information overload—that honesty feels more urgent than ever.
What Is Absurdism, and Why Does It Matter?
Absurdism is a philosophical perspective that explores the conflict between humans’ desire for meaning and the silent, indifferent universe. The term is often linked to both Camus and existentialist thinkers like Sartre, though Camus resisted the existentialist label.
At its heart, Absurdism says: The world doesn’t offer inherent meaning. But instead of despairing, we must find a way to live with that contradiction. Camus believed that recognizing life’s absurdity can actually set us free.
In The Stranger, Meursault embodies this philosophy. He doesn’t lie to comfort others. He doesn’t pretend to feel emotions he doesn’t feel. He faces life—and death—without illusion. This honesty is what makes him both threatening and fascinating to the society around him.
Camus argued that we must embrace the absurd condition of human existence: the constant search for meaning in a world that offers none. But he rejected nihilism, which implies despair. Instead, he proposed a third way—the absurd hero, who acknowledges life’s lack of meaning but continues to live fully and authentically. Meursault is one of the earliest and clearest illustrations of this kind of character.
Absurdism matters today more than ever. In a hyper-connected world full of distractions, political unrest, and information overload, many people feel overwhelmed by contradiction. Absurdism offers a way to hold these contradictions without collapsing. For readers in Berkeley or Oakland who value critical thought and philosophical dialogue, The Stranger serves as a profound entry point into the absurd condition of the 21st century.
Plot Summary (Without Spoilers)
Meursault is a French Algerian living in Algiers. He receives news that his mother has died and attends her funeral—but his unemotional reaction immediately sets him apart. What follows is a series of events in which Meursault’s behavior—his refusal to fake grief, his physical and sensual focus, and a violent act committed on a beach—lead him to a confrontation with the legal and moral codes of society.
The novel is divided into two parts: one that follows Meursault’s everyday life, and one that shifts into philosophical reflection after a pivotal event. Together, they form a seamless journey from action to consequence, from freedom to fate.
Along the way, Camus explores themes of alienation, justice, mortality, and truth. Meursault’s encounters with love, friendship, violence, and institutional authority form a narrative arc that feels both spare and monumental.
Meursault: A Man Outside the System
Meursault isn’t your typical protagonist. He doesn’t strive for success. He doesn’t chase love or redemption. Instead, he observes, experiences, and describes life with a cool detachment.
Camus saw Meursault as honest. In a world that demands performance—grief, joy, remorse—Meursault refuses to play along. His crime, in the eyes of society, is not what he does—but how he refuses to lie about who he is.
Meursault’s detachment is not without feeling; it’s simply not performative. He values the sensual and immediate. In legal terms, Meursault becomes a scapegoat. His refusal to exhibit remorse makes him an outsider to the court, which demands narrative closure, emotional repentance, and moral clarity.
Absurdism on the Page: Style, Structure, and Voice
Camus’s writing is deceptively simple. The language in The Stranger is clean, short, and declarative. The novel’s structure supports its philosophical arc. The first part is grounded in the body—in sensation, action, heat, and routine. The second part shifts toward thought, confinement, and mortality.
Camus’s narrative voice doesn’t guide us to judgment. It invites us to sit beside Meursault and ask: What matters? What doesn’t? Why do we expect stories—and people—to behave a certain way?
Why This Short Novel Still Resonates
At just over 100 pages, The Stranger continues to haunt literature courses and book clubs. It doesn’t offer answers. It offers a confrontation—with the reader, with meaning, with death.
Even now, readers continue to wrestle with Meursault’s actions—and inactions. Was he wrong to feel so little? Or was his detachment a courageous refusal to lie?
For French learners in the Bay Area, the novel also serves as an accessible gateway into classic French literature.
A French-Algerian Context
Camus was born in French Algeria. The Arab character Meursault kills is never named—something that has sparked intense debate. Contemporary critics have examined the racial and colonial undercurrents of the story.
At Polyglottist Language Academy, we encourage students to read critically, with attention to history, power, and identity.
Teaching The Stranger in the Bay Area
In Berkeley, high schools and universities include The Stranger in French and philosophy classes. In Oakland and San Francisco, it’s examined through both literary and postcolonial lenses.
At Polyglottist Language Academy, we teach The Stranger through literature modules that blend text, context, and culture. Students read, analyze, and rewrite scenes while practicing real-world French.
How to Read The Stranger for Maximum Impact
Read it twice—once for plot, once for theme.
Annotate as you go.
Ask questions: Why does the sun matter? Why doesn’t he lie?
Discuss with others—especially in class.
Read it in French if you can. It’s surprisingly accessible and powerful in its original language.
Conclusion: Facing the Absurd With Open Eyes
Camus didn’t believe in despair. He believed in revolt—not against others, but against illusion. Meursault learns to accept the absurd—and becomes free.
Whether you’re a French learner in Berkeley or a literature lover in San Jose, The Stranger is more than a novel. It’s a challenge. A mirror. A map to a new way of thinking.
Learn French Through Literature at Polyglottist Language Academy
At Polyglottist, we believe literature is one of the most powerful gateways to language. Our French classes include literary analysis, real-world vocabulary, and cultural exploration.
👉 Sign up for French classes now