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• The Stranger: Part One – Chapter One
• The Stranger: Part One – Chapter Two
• The Stranger: Part One – Chapter Three
• The Stranger: Part One – Chapter Four
• The Stranger: Part One – Chapter Five
• The Stranger: Part One – Chapter Six
• The Stranger: Part Two – Chapter One
• The Stranger: Part Two – Chapter Two
• The Stranger: Part Two – Chapter Three
• The Stranger: Part Two – Chapter Four
• The Stranger: Part Two – Chapter Five
• The Stranger: Characters
• The Stranger: Metaphors
• The Stranger: Themes

The Stranger: Essay Questions

• The Stranger: Biography

1.  Summarise the events of the vigil and funeral of Meursault’s mother.

The novel begins auspiciously as Meursault recounts how his mother died today, or maybe yesterday and immediately he is cast as one who is at least indifferent to the meaning of events surrounding him.

As recounted in the court case, he shows little emotion during his time at the home and is seen to endure the vigil and funeral rather than be emotionally engaged with it. He remembers barely anything of the funeral itself, noting Pérez’s fainting fit, the heat and light, and the white roots mixed with earth that covers his mother’s coffin. Although he shows no grief at this time, the readers should consider, nevertheless, if he should be condemned for this. He acts authentically, rather than hypocritically, and the narrative demands that this should not be a reason for him being condemned.

2. Consider the effect of the sun on Meursault and offer an analysis.

The glare of the sun and the unbearable heat are described in each chapter that Meursault is free and it becomes a cipher for how he (or anyone) is unable to escape the effects of nature, and the universe. He is depicted as being a victim of the unforgiving light, and this in turn highlights how he (as is anyone) an insignificant absurdist creation.

The heat of the sun is also a reminder that the setting is based in French-controlled Algeria, and Meursault’s negative reaction to it serves to emphasize how he, like other French citizen, is an outsider in this country.

3. Analyze the court case.

The court case is depicted as one that borders on farcical and if it were not for the outcome of the death penalty, it would be seen as wholly laughable. Meursault is seen to be tried for his emotionless reaction to his mother’s death rather than for the murder of an Algerian (or, an ‘Arab’ as he is always referred to) and the court is complicit in such racist views of the native citizens.

Because of this, the moral condemnation of Meursault is seen to be not only inappropriate when it does not concern the murder he has committed, but also hypocritical as those who are judging him are also shown to be guilty of moral delinquency.

4. Consider the ending of The Outsider .

It is not until the last paragraphs of the novel that Meursault reaches some kind of understanding of his life and how to live it. After venting his anger on the chaplain, who refuses to allow him to be a non-believer, he feels cleansed.

He understands now that the ‘benign indifference of the universe’ should be lived with and accepted, and life should be experienced while still possible. His death is inevitable because of his death sentence, but he also sees that we are all born to die. It is of note that he also recognizes this by remembering his mother’s relationship with Pérez as he sees that she chose to start afresh again at the very end of her existence. It is thoughts such as these that inspire him to consider the crowds at his execution as easing his loneliness as they will remind him he is still alive until the last moment.

5. Examine the philosophy underpinning the novel.

This novel is shaded with the concept of the absurd and puts into practice what has already been seen in Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus . The insignificance of humanity and the meaningless of the world are highlighted by this way of thinking, as is the understanding that despite this it is still possible to live authentically and with good faith.

Meursault embodies both of these views as he lives from moment to moment with barely any regard for the future or for those around him, but goes on to understand that this need lead to meaninglessness. He is not morally condemned for this, but nor is he praised. It is not until his epiphany in the final paragraphs that he recognizes that despite the ultimate meaningless of our existence, it is possible to have hope and to experience existence as fully as possible.

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The Stranger

Albert camus.

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Albert Camus's The Stranger . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Stranger: Introduction

The stranger: plot summary, the stranger: detailed summary & analysis, the stranger: themes, the stranger: quotes, the stranger: characters, the stranger: symbols, the stranger: theme wheel, brief biography of albert camus.

Historical Context of The Stranger

Other books related to the stranger.

• Full Title: The Stranger
• When Written: 1941?-1942
• Where Written: France
• When Published: 1942
• Literary Period: Modernist
• Genre: Philosophical novel
• Setting: Algiers, Algeria
• Climax: Meursault shoots the Arab.
• Antagonist: Raymond
• Point of View: First person (Meursault is the narrator.)

Extra Credit for The Stranger

An Existential Novel? Though The Stranger is often categorized as an existential novel, Camus himself rejected this label. Camus’ philosophy of Absurdism resembles Existentialism in many respects (both philosophies, for example, believe in the essential meaninglessness of life) but Camus was fiercely committed to human morality and dignity, ideas many Existentialists discarded.

Alternate Translations. The key sentence in Meursault’s final acceptance of death has been translated in several different ways, each of which shifts the line’s meaning. The edition on which this guide is based was translated by Matthew Ward and published in 1988. It translates the line: "I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world." The first English edition, translated by Stuart Gilbert and published in 1946, translated this line, "I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe." The second English edition, translated by Joseph Laredo and first published in 1982, translated the line, "I laid my heart open to the gentle indifference of the universe."

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The Stranger Albert Camus

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The Stranger Essays

Nonconformity: condemnation anthony haddad, the stranger.

"Society is a masked ball, where every one hides his real character, and reveals it in hiding." ---Ralph Waldo Emerson

A society constrained to specific social standards reprimands those who do not conform to such principles. In the process, a...

Irony Of The Stranger Sugato De

"Society is a masked ball, where every one hides his real character, and reveals it in hiding."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

A society constrained to specific social standards reprimands those who do not conform to such principles. In the process, a supreme...

The Stranger: Existential Martyrdom Anonymous

The death of a loved one is typically one of the most emotionally distressing events people face, particularly when that person is a parent. In most societies, it would be considered taboo for a son to respond to his parent's demise with...

The Effectiveness of Violence in The Stranger Christina Harrison

Albert Camus's novel The Stranger is an extremely explicit work describing violent acts witnessed by a narrator who seems to be wholly unaffected by their brutality. The novel begins with death - "Mamman died today" (3) - and ends with the...

Truth Dawning: The Sun as a Symbol for Meursault's Awareness in Albert Camus' The Stranger Catherine Morrison

Truth Dawning:

The Sun as a Symbol for Meursault's Awareness in Albert Camus' The Stranger

In his novel "The Stranger," Albert Camus uses the relentless Algerian sun as a metaphor for the awareness of reality that pursues his main character,...

Sympathy for Protagonists of The Stranger and Metamorphosis Daniel Kell

In Camus’ The Stranger and Kafka’s Metamorphosis, the protagonist finds himself in an extraordinary situation that challenges his will. In both novels, this initially unsympathetic character struggles to redeem himself. In so doing, his identity...

Super Women Anonymous

The main female characters of Sonia and Marie in Crime and Punishment and The Stranger, respectively, do more than faithfully support Raskolnikov and Meursault in their times of need. Their roles structure the men’s characters and ultimately help...

Symbolism and Characterization in The Stranger and First Confession Ben Dong

In Albert Camus’s The Stranger and Montserrat Fontes’s First Confession, symbols and characterization play a major role in outlining each novel’s primary message. Both authors’ use of these literary elements contribute to the reader’s...

Absurdity in The Stranger Anonymous

In Albert Camus’ The Stranger, the main character, Mersault, is confronted with life’s absurdity after killing a man at a beach in Algiers. Mersault spends his days absorbed in living for the moment, granting little import to the past or future,...

Rejection of the Abnormal in The Metamorphosis and The Stranger Anonymous 12th Grade

Both Gregor Samsa from Franz Kafka’s novel The Metamorphosis and Meursault from Albert Camus’ The Stranger struggle to communicate with the people around them. Although Samsa suffers from physical abnormalities while Meursault possesses...

The Strangest Stranger Caitlin Tran 11th Grade

When Albert Camus’ novel, The Stranger, was first published in 1942, many readers did not know what to think of Meursault, the emotionally disconnected protagonist of Camus’ story. His absurdist views confused the masses that yearned for meanings...

A Comparison of How Alienation Affects the Protagonists of The Thief and the Dogs and The Stranger Mark Wheeler 12th Grade

In Naguib Mahfouz’s The Thief and the Dogs Albert Camus’ The Stranger, we are exposed to two very different characters, Said Mahran and Meursault. Both these characters are alienated from their societies, and change drastically as a result of this...

Clothing and Social Constructs in The Stranger Anonymous 12th Grade

In some novels, even the most minuscule ordinary objects are subjects of great importance and symbolism; after all, symbolism which adds meaning to the text that cannot be overlooked. In the work The Stranger by Albert Camus, outerwear holds a...

Meursault as an Outsider to Society, to Himself and to his Environment Eleni Achnioti 12th Grade

Albert Camus was an Algerian-French absurdist author, who wrote novels like The Outsider and The Plague. In The Outsider he tells the story of an emotionless and immoral character, Meursault, and how he deals with the norms of the society and the...

The Absurd and the Concept of Hope in Camus's Novels James Min 12th Grade

When one questions the existence of God, one often reverts to a specific, troubling question: “if God exists, why are there moral tragedies that cause such great suffering?” In other words, humans find it very difficult when there is an event or...

Philosophical Morality in A Clockwork Orange and The Stranger Anonymous 12th Grade

Many philosophers have believed for centuries that no intrinsic meaning exists in the universe. From this belief emerged many responses, including absurdism and existentialism. Although all are heavily influenced by the beliefs of Søren...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entertainment Anonymous 11th Grade

There is a Latin phrase “Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur,” which translates to “The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived” (Sebastian). These words resonate particularly well when applied to Albert Camus’ The Stranger. To conform...

Individualism and Escape: Hunger, The Metamorphosis, and The Stranger Anonymous 12th Grade

Choice is inescapable and inevitable to all who exist or have ever existed. When meeting a fork in the road, a decision is always made, even if no action is taken. Utterly paradoxical, even the act of no decision at all is stepping in one...

The Stranger: Meursault’s Virtues? Sam Bennett 10th Grade

Meursault, the main character in Albert Camus’s The Stranger , is an intriguing individual with a complicated relationship to the world around him. He is curious by nature, and often wonders about the reality and purpose of the situations he finds...

Twentieth Century Turmoil Reflections in Literature Crystal Wu 12th Grade

During the twentieth century, life in Europe changed drastically, due to the multitude of events and changes that crowded this century. From the wars to the effects of the Industrial revolution, the lives of Europeans were constantly changing,...

Meursault: A Static or Dynamic Character? Sophie Lis 12th Grade

Throughout the duration of Albert Camus’s novel The Stranger , the narrator, Meursault, evolves in terms of his self-awareness and world-view, a change which Camus uses to aid the reader in understanding both his protagonist and the existentialist...

Humankind’s Drive to Find Meaning: Dostoevsky, Camus, and Woody Allen Anonymous 12th Grade

In absurdist fiction, authors and writers focus on characters who investigate the meaning of human existence in order to call into question existential notions. Some writers may utilize character’s confrontation with absurdism to either reject or...

A Sickness Called Death: The Significance of Salamano's Dog Anonymous College

The French novel The Stranger , written by Albert Camus and translated by Matthew Ward, describes a French-colonized Algeria in the 1940’s. Throughout the novel, central arguments and themes are being linked together by different scenes. In the...

The "Robot Woman" and Her Influence: Women’s Various Levels of Enlightenment Compared with Meursault's Own Elias Curran-Moore 12th Grade

In Albert Camus’ novel The Stranger , different women can be seen as having achieved various levels of enlightenment when compared to the final, ‘complete’ enlightenment Meursault achieves at the end of the novel. In the end, Meursault embraces...

“The Stranger” by Albert Camus: Literary Analysis Essay

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Literary Analysis of The Stranger by Albert Camus

Literature has always been reflecting major trends in various spheres of social and political life at a certain period. Philosophical views also have an immense impact on the development of literary works which represent the core ideas of the epoch. The philosophy of existentialism emerged in Europe, sharing the ideas of individuality and freedom based on which people make decisions. Albert Camus is considered as existentialist, but he acknowledges his contributions to absurdism the basic principles of which are highlighted in his novel The Stranger .

Albert Camus is a famous author and philosopher who was born in the family of French expatriates in Algiers. He studied philosophy at the university so that after obtaining a degree he explored the concepts of existentialism in the middle of the 1930s and examined the principles of the absurdity of human existence several years later. Based on the analysis of the newly acquired philosophical ideas, Camus started to work on his first novel The Stranger .

It incorporates the ideas of absurdity which question the value and sense of human life depicted throughout the subjective experiences of the protagonist. He acts based on his prejudices and choices but realizes what he is doing and knows the value of words (Camus 100). In general, the literary works of the writer explore a search for justice, liberty, and faith in human dignity, disregarding the external factors and neglect of personal identity. Nevertheless, the philosophy of Camus states that people have enough opportunities to determine destiny by making deliberate choices but not chances determined by fate.

The themes of existentialism and absurdism are discussed in The Stranger , a novel about the man who considers the universe is pointless. Meursault, the protagonist, obviously lacks remorse when his mother dies so that his behavior is not typical during the funeral. When the caretaker invites him to the room, he drinks some coffee with milk and smokes (Camus 12). Such behavior is perceived as disrespectful and inadequate because people are usually upset when their family members pass away, while the main character remains unflappable.

Indeed, society is formed based on some ideological principles the neglection of which may lead to the disruptions and uncertainties in the system (Camus 101). Subsequently, the ideas of absurdism affect the audience because they define uncommon values associated with a differentiating behavior that expresses the inner self of the person rather than masks one’s true feelings and motivation for actions. In this case, the existentialism dogma questions the freedom of choice and juxtaposition of subjective and objective values.

The inner struggle between personal values and external expectations are clearly illustrated in the actions and thoughts of the protagonist. Camus admits that human beings form themselves based on their values and freedom of choice. Thus, Mersault takes his chance to fight with Arab and shoot him five times (Camus 59). This case proves that he is a man of a free will that is essential to support one’s human dignity.

Throughout the novel, the protagonist often refers to the power of the sun as the agent that usually provokes Meursault to lose temper and commit some unreasonable actions. Even during the examination when he is asked about the pause between the first and the second shot, the protagonist only reminds of the power of the burning sun on his forehead but could not explain anything (Camus 67).

The life of the main character is the sequence of random and impulsive choices that form his individuality. His values and preferences contradict the external social environment and identify him as a man with no remorse, lack of emotions, and moral premises. The concept of the stranger in the novel symbolizes an enemy of society who ignores fundamental rules (Camus 102). It means that the value of the freedom of choice and action is undermined by justice, ideologies, and moral principles that regulate social order.

Apart from the inability of the individual to resist the power of social regulations, and understanding of the role of religion constitutes another problem of existentialism discussed in The Stranger . The protagonist of this novel breaks the rules, declines the power of religion, questions the sense of life, but his mother said that happiness can be found in any aspect of life (Camus 113). Meursault is happy even before his death which makes him a respected hero of the existentialist philosophy.

Furthermore, he does not change his principles before execution so that during the last chaplain’s visit the protagonist confidently affirms that he still envisions no sense in religion (Camus 117). Despite rejecting the existence of God, Camus acknowledges that a world with no religion will be full of chaos so that everything would be uncontrolled due to no restrictions or moral regulations.

Overall, the themes of existentialism covered in The Stranger affect the audience by the irrationality of life and the inconsistency of the moral principles. The writer’s philosophy implies that people have enough freedom to determine their destiny by making deliberate choices. These actions form a particular individual through the evolvement of personal values that sometimes contradict social regulations and moral principles. Thus, the protagonist neglects the truth of religion, rebels against the rules, and lives an irrational life but declares himself happy, which makes him a respected existentialist hero.

Works Cited

Camus, Albert. The Stranger . Translated by Matthew Ward, Vintage, 1989.

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Essay Samples on The Stranger

The psychological and sociological approach to writing in gimpel the fool.

Throughout, both, Gimpel the Fool by Isaac Bashevis Singer and Albert Camus’s The Stranger, they both have a psychological and sociological approach to both writings. Albert Camus and Isaac Bashevis Singer both associate philosophical imagery, the contradicting impression of God and the social construct in...

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Book Analysis: The Stranger, Savage Inequalities.

The Stranger by Albert Camus The Stranger by Albert Camus is written as a stream of consciousness that doesn’t have a direct or clear plot line, especially initially. Instead of an event relating to the next to form a coherent story, the thoughts of the...

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Theme of Existentialism in The Stranger by Albert Camus

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Analysis of Mersault's Behavior in The Stranger

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The Theme of Absurdity in "The Stranger" by Albert Camus

Absurdity in The Stranger by Albert Camus is a vastly discussed topic, mainly because Camus has managed to bring on a subject of humanity that is not often discussed. Absurdity, in philosophy, is the conflict to find meaning to something that doesn’t have meaning, and...

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Analysis of Haeree Choi's Representation of Meursault's Character from "The Stranger"

In the image by Haeree Choi, the artist effectively represents the character Meursault in the book The stranger by making the painting meaningful of the surrounding of meursault and therefore the painting makes the person looking at the image have more of a feeling of...

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The Stranger Essay

The Stranger is one of the most famous novels by Albert Camus. The novel tells the story of Meursault, a man who is seemingly indifferent to the death of his mother and the trial that follows her death. The book has been praised for its exploration of freedom and death, two central themes in Camus’s philosophy. In The Stranger, Camus challenges our notions of what it means to be free and whether or not we can truly control our own destiny. The book is a powerful reminder that life is unpredictable and often meaningless, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t live it to the fullest.

The idea that individuals are free when they die is taken from The Stranger by Camus, as it is in all of his works. One dependent on the other, freedom and death are major themes in Camus’s view. For Camus, freedom springs from a sense of ones life; it is an intense magnificent existence that does not need to be redeemed or regretted. Death is unjustified and ridiculous; it simply represents a return to the cosmos for a liberated individual.

The key to this awareness is lucidity, seeing things as they are without illusions. The stranger is the character in The Stranger who most fully embodies and experiences these ideas. The novel also dramatizes the confrontation of the individual with an unjust, absurd world. The central problem of the novel is whether or not the stranger can maintain his freedom and integrity in the face of a hostile and indifferent universe. The answer to this question is ambiguous, and its ambiguity is one of the chief sources of the novels power.

In The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus explores the idea that life may have no inherent meaning but that it can be lived fully in accordance with ones own values. The title refers to the ancient Greek legend of Sisyphus, a man condemned by the gods to roll a heavy rock up a hill, only to have it roll back down again each time he nears the top.

The point of the story is that Sisyphus chooses to continue his task even though it is pointless; in so doing, he affirms life and gives it meaning. The character of Meursault in The Stranger may be seen as a modern-day Sisyphus. Like Sisyphus, Meursault is an individual who feels no connection to the world around him and who experiences life as meaningless. Yet he persists in living, despite the futility of existence. In this way, he too affirms life.

In a nutshell, The Stranger is a Camusian parable about the necessity of what is necessary for freedom. Meursault, the protagonist of The Stranger, is not a person one would encounter in real life in this regard; until the novel’s conclusion, Meursault was unable to attain enlightenment and freedom from Camus philosophy.

The Stranger begins with Meursault receiving a telegram informing him of his mother death. The first act that Meursault does is to go and inform his employer, for which he is reprimanded. From the very beginning, then, we see that Meursault is indifferent to the social conventions that most people live by. This indifference toward social conventions continues when Meursault attends his mother funeral. He shows no emotion whatsoever during the funeral, which shocks and upsets everyone else in attendance.

The only thing that Meursault seems to be concerned about is whether or not the funeral will interfere with his plans for the weekend.

After the funeral, Meursault goes on vacation with a friend named Raymond. While on vacation, they meet some Arabs, and Raymond gets into a fight with one of them. The next day, Meursault goes for a walk on the beach with Raymond and the Arabs. The Arabs spot them and start following them.

Meursault and Raymond eventually lose them, but when they go back to where they are staying, they see the Arabs again. The Arabs start throwing rocks at them, and one of the rocks hits Raymond in the face. The two men then go back to town to get a gun, and they go back to the beach and kill the Arabs.

Back in court, Meursault is found guilty of murder. The prosecutor tries to get him to show some regret or emotion for what he has done, but Meursault remains indifferent. The only thing that matters to him is whether or not he will be executed. In the end, Meursault is sentenced to death, and he accepts it without any regrets.

Camus’s philosophy is based on the idea that there is no inherent meaning in life, but that we can create our own meaning by living in accordance with our own values. This is what Camus calls “the absurd” – the recognition that life is ultimately meaningless, but that we can choose to live in a way that makes our life meaningful. The goal of Camus’s philosophy is to achieve a “state of freedom” in which we are able to live authentically, according to our own values, despite the absurdity of life.

Meursault is not able to achieve this state of freedom until the end of the book, but he is still living in accordance with Camus’s philosophy even though he is not aware of it. The fact that Meursault is indifferent to social conventions and does not care about anything except his own interests shows that he is living authentically, in accordance with his own values. The fact that he is willing to accept death without any regrets shows that he has achieved a state of freedom in which he is not afraid of death or of the absurd.

An irreligious person from a nation that has never heard of Christianity is an example of his counterpart in the Christian worldview. Having it explained to him by a missionary, he understands he has never sinned, which represents the morality and characteristics needed for liberty in this case. What was Meursault’s underlying moral value? His foremost character trait is his dedication to absolute knowledge. While Meursault’s truth of being and feeling takes this form, it remains true for the conquest of the self or the world.

The absolute, according to Camus, liberates. The second trait is Meursault’s courage in the face of death. The hero is he who faces death without flinching and thereby affirms life. To be sure, Meursault does not so much confront death as accept it as a natural phenomenon; but this is tantamount to the same thing. For Camus, life and death are two aspects of the same reality. The third quality is Meursault’s detachment or indifference to opinion. He does not care what people think of him; he lives for himself alone”

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Essays on The Stranger

Prompt examples for "the stranger" essays, meursault's indifference to life.

Explore Meursault's character and his indifference to life, including his actions and emotions. How does his apathy shape the events of the novel, and what does it reveal about existentialism?

Existentialism in "The Stranger"

Analyze the existentialist themes present in the novel. How does Meursault's worldview and choices align with existentialist philosophy, and what existentialist concepts are evident in the story?

The Absurdity of Life

Discuss the theme of the absurd in "The Stranger." How does the novel portray the absurdity of human existence, and what role does it play in Meursault's actions and his trial?

The Trial and Social Conformity

Analyze Meursault's trial and its connection to societal norms and conformity. How do Meursault's actions challenge social conventions, and how does society react to his non-conformity?

Relationships in the Novel

Examine the relationships Meursault has with other characters in the novel, such as Marie and Raymond. How do these relationships reflect Meursault's emotional detachment, and what do they reveal about human connection?

The Symbolism of the Sun

Discuss the symbolism of the sun in "The Stranger." How is the sun used throughout the novel, and what does it represent in relation to Meursault's experiences and emotions?

Camus's Writing Style

Analyze Albert Camus's writing style in "The Stranger." How does his prose contribute to the overall mood and themes of the novel, and what literary techniques does he use to convey his ideas?

Meursault's Transformation

Examine any potential transformation or realization that Meursault experiences throughout the novel. Does he undergo any change in his worldview or attitude towards life by the end of the story?

Isolation and Alienation

Discuss the themes of isolation and alienation in the novel. How does Meursault's detachment from others and society contribute to his existential crisis and the events of the story?

Moral and Philosophical Questions

Explore the moral and philosophical questions raised by "The Stranger." What ethical dilemmas does Meursault's story present, and how do readers interpret his actions in a moral context?

The Character of Monsieur Meursault in The Stranger

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Existentialism in Albert Camus' The Stranger

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Analysis of Meursault's Shift in Character in The Stranger

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Alienation in Hunger, Metamorphosis and The Stranger

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• 1942 (Gallimard, French)
• 1946 (Hamish Hamilton, English)

Albert Camus

Novel, Philosophical fiction, Absurdist fiction, Reference work, Crime Fiction, Existential Fiction

Meursault, Salamano, Raymond Sintes, Marie Cardona, Masson

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The Stranger

73 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

Part 1, Chapters 4-6

Part 2, Chapters 1-3

Part 2, Chapters 4-5

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Summary and Study Guide

The Stranger is a short novel by French author Albert Camus, published in 1942. The story combines themes of absurdism and existentialism and is considered a classic of 20th-century literature. This guide uses the translation by Stuart Gilbert.

Plot Summary

Meursault , a young man living in Algiers, receives a message which tells him that his mother has died. He takes a bus to the retirement home where she lived and stays with her body before the funeral. His mother is buried the next day, but Meursault demonstrates none of the emotions expected of a grieving son. He spends more time scrutinizing the elderly funeral attendees than he does thinking about his mother.

Upon returning to Algiers, Meursault goes to a swimming pool where he reunites with a former coworker named Marie. They develop a romantic relationship and, after a date at the cinema, she spends the night with him. However, Meursault struggles to commit to any emotions regarding their relationship. Over the coming days, Meursault strengthens his friendship with a neighbor named Raymond Sintes , who enlists Meursault to exact revenge on his Algerian mistress. Sintes blames the woman for being unfaithful to him, and he wants to embarrass her. Meursault agrees to help without thinking about the ramifications of his actions. As with everyone else, Meursault barely considers the feelings of Sintes or his mistress. He writes a letter for Sintes to trick the woman into returning.

Sintes reunites with his mistress thanks to the letter and, soon after, Meursault and Marie overhear a violent argument in Sintes’s apartment. Sintes beats his mistress so badly that the police are called. However, Sintes receives no punishment, as he enlists Meursault as a witness to say the woman was unfaithful. Meursault also talks with an elderly neighbor named Salamano, a man who is often heard shouting at his sick dog. One day the dog goes missing. Meursault tries to comfort Salamano but is bored by the old man’s recollections about his pet and his dead wife.

Sintes invites Marie and Meursault to his friend’s beach house. They are followed by a young Algerian man, the brother of Sintes’s mistress. Meursault spends a day at the beach and feels ill under the oppressive sun. The Algerian youth (whom Meursault refers to as the Arab ) and his friend try to attack Sintes. The Arab draws a knife and cuts Sintes before they run away. Later, Sintes tries to exact revenge on the youths. He tracks down the Arab and his friend and points a gun at them. Meursault convinces Sintes to calm down and takes the gun. That afternoon Meursault goes for a walk alone and encounters the Arab again. The heat of the sun and the confusing situation cause Meursault to shoot the young Algerian four times.

Meursault is arrested and jailed. He reflects on his incarceration and the trial he is about to face. Due to his general apathy and detachment from life, his time in prison is not overly punishing. He explores his memories, sleeps, and is occasionally taken away to be interviewed by a magistrate or his lawyer. The magistrate is shocked that Meursault does not believe in religion, while his lawyer is confident the trial will have a positive result.

At the trial, the prosecutor points to Meursault’s lack of emotion as a reason why he should be executed. He describes Meursault’s behavior at his mother’s funeral and calls numerous witnesses to reveal how Meursault failed to react to emotional situations in the expected manner. This behavior, the prosecutor argues, is evident of a man who lacks any remorse. Salamano, Marie, and Sintes all provide evidence at the trial, but none of them convince the jury that Meursault is a sympathetic figure. Throughout the trial Meursault observes events in the hot, stuffy courtroom in a detached, unengaged manner. The prosecutor closes by labelling Meursault a soulless, remorseless monster who should be put to death. The jury agrees, and Meursault is sentenced to death by guillotine.

Meursault returns to jail while awaiting the results of his appeal. While he waits, he reflects on the nature of justice and death. He argues with the prison chaplain, as the priest cannot understand why Meursault does not believe in God. Religion, Meursault says, is a waste of time. The constant probing from the chaplain leads to an emotional outburst from Meursault. He angrily shouts at the chaplain, who runs from the room. The outburst allows Meursault to express some of the anger and the frustration he feels, but he remains convinced of the meaningless of life and the absurdity of freedom and existence in general.

Meursault prepares to face the guillotine. The more he thinks about his seemingly inevitable death, the more he accepts his fate. He opens himself up to the indifferent nature of the world and hopes that a large crowd will gather to watch his execution.

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Supreme Court rejects bid to restrict access to abortion pill

In a blow for anti-abortion advocates, the  Supreme Court  on Thursday rejected a challenge to the abortion pill mifepristone , meaning the commonly used drug can remain widely available.

The court  found unanimously  that the group of anti-abortion doctors who questioned the Food and Drug Administration’s decisions making it easier to access the pill did not have legal standing to sue. 

President Joe Biden said in a statement that while the ruling means the pill can remain easily accessible, “the fight for reproductive freedom continues” in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling two years ago that overturned abortion rights landmark Roe v. Wade.

“It does not change the fact that the right for a woman to get the treatment she needs is imperiled if not impossible in many states,” he added.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the court, wrote that while plaintiffs have “sincere legal, moral, ideological, and policy objections to elective abortion and to FDA’s relaxed regulation of mifepristone,” that does not mean they have a federal case.

The plaintiffs failed to show they had suffered any injury, meaning that “the federal courts are the wrong forum for addressing the plaintiffs’ concerns about FDA’s actions,” he added.

“The plaintiffs may present their concerns and objections to the president and FDA in the regulatory process or to Congress and the president in the legislative process,” Kavanaugh wrote. “And they may also express their views about abortion and mifepristone to fellow citizens, including in the political and electoral processes.”

The legal challenge was brought by doctors and other medical professionals represented by the conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom.

“We are disappointed that the Supreme Court did not reach the merits of the FDA’s lawless removal of commonsense safety standards for abortion drugs,” said Erin Hawley, one of the group’s lawyers. She told reporters she is hopeful the underlying lawsuit can continue because three states — Idaho, Missouri and Kansas — have brought their own claims and have different arguments for standing.

By throwing out the case on such grounds, the court avoided reaching a decision on the legal merits of whether the FDA acted lawfully in lifting various restrictions, including one making the drug obtainable via mail, meaning the same issues could yet return to the court in another case.

Another regulatory decision left in place means women can still obtain the pill within 10 weeks of gestation instead of seven. 

Likewise a decision to allow health care providers other than physicians to dispense the pill will remain in effect.

The court’s decision to roll back abortion rights two years ago led to a wave of new abortion restrictions in conservative states.

Then, the court suggested it was removing itself from the political debate over abortion, but with litigation continuing to rage over abortion access, the justices are continuing to play a pivotal role. 

Abortion rights supporters welcomed the ruling, with Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, saying she was relieved at the outcome but angered about the case lingering in the court system so long.

“Thank goodness the Supreme Court rejected this unwarranted attempt to curtail access to medication abortion, but the fact remains that this meritless case should never have gotten this far,” she said in a statement.

Danco Laboratories, manufacturer of Mifeprex, the brand version of mifepristone, praised the ruling too, saying it was good for the drug approval process writ large.

In rejecting the challenge, the court “maintained the stability of the FDA drug approval process, which is based on the agency’s expertise and on which patients, health care providers and the U.S. pharmaceutical industry rely,” company spokeswoman Abigail Long said.

Anti-abortion groups expressed disappointment, saying that the ruling highlighted the importance of this year’s election in which Democrat Biden, who has pledged to defend abortion rights, faces off against Republican Donald Trump, who has the strong backing of conservatives who oppose abortion.

“Joe Biden and the Democrats are hell-bent on forcing abortion on demand any time for any reason, including DIY mail-order abortions, on every state in the country,” Marjorie Dannenfeiser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, said.

If Trump were to win the election, his appointees to the FDA would be a position to impose new restrictions on mifepristone. Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez-Rodriguez, alluded to the possibility in a call with reporters after the ruling. Calling the case “one tactic in a broader, relentless strategy” by anti-abortion activists, Chavez-Rodriguez said if Trump is elected, his advisers and allies would try to ban abortion nationwide “without the help of Congress or the court,” and also restrict access to contraception — a threat, she said, to blue as well as red states.

The mifepristone dispute is not the only abortion case currently before the court. It is also due to decide whether  Idaho’s strict abortion ban  prevents doctors in emergency rooms from performing abortions when a pregnant woman is facing dangerous complications.

Mifepristone is used as part of a two-drug FDA-approved regimen that is now the most common form of abortion in the United States.

Abortion is effectively banned altogether in 14 states, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that backs abortion rights.

The FDA had the backing of the pharmaceutical industry, which has warned that any second-guessing of the approval process by untrained federal judges could  cause chaos and deter innovation.

Last year, Texas-based U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued a sweeping ruling that completely invalidated the FDA’s approval of the pill, leading to panic among abortion-rights activists that it would be banned nationwide.

The Supreme Court last April put that ruling on hold, meaning the pill remained widely available while litigation continued.

The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in August then narrowed Kacsmaryk’s decision but left in place his conclusion that the FDA’s move to lift restrictions starting in 2016 was unlawful.

Both sides appealed to the Supreme Court. The court in December took up the Biden administration’s appeal in defense of the later FDA decisions, but it opted against hearing the challenge to the original approval of mifepristone in 2000. 

The Supreme Court focused solely on the later FDA action, including the initial 2021 decision that made the drug available by mail, which was finalized last year.

This article first appeared on NBCNews.com .

Lawrence Hurley covers the Supreme Court for NBC News Digital.

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