ALBERT CAMUS BOOK
"The foreigner" is a quite easy book to read since it has few pages, language is simple and reading is enjoyable. The writer, Albert Camus, does not use complicated or too philosophical language, so anyone can read it. It also makes you reflect and think about the main character and its actions. Look why his attitude and reason why he does one thing or another. It is a quite interesting novel, especially from the point of view of philosophy, because it helps us understand some human behaviors.
The main character, Meursault, lives several adventures or situations that are similar to those that occur in reality. An example, and the first, is when he discovers that his mother has died and receives a letter explaining this circumstance. Many people have lived the death of a loved one, be it his mother or any other family member or friend. However, the protagonist barely cries his death. He simply sits at her funeral and, instead of thinking about her mother, the memories she has of her, or expressing her feelings, describes the people who attend the duel. That is not a very common situation, but from time to time, it can happen. At the beginning of the novel, the narrator and protagonist (since it is written in the first person) says that his mother died, but does not remember if he received the “yesterday” telegram or “today”. It is indifferent. Similarly, when asked if he wants to see her body again, he replies that no. In addition, he declares that he does not know the exact age of his mother several times.
Meursault’s neighbor has a dog. He adopted him as a company animal after his wife’s death. In life, it usually happens that after the death or abandonment of someone who is very important for us, we usually have a feeling of emotional vacuum and we need to fill that void with something or someone. Many return to another relationship, if it is a couple, others prefer to have a pet, in short, there are several ways to fill that void, but the important thing is to know how to assume and accept death because it is a natural process that occurs in our lives.
Maria asked him once if he wanted to marry her. He replied yes, but Maria then asked him if he loved her. As she had already said at another time, she replied that what else she gave. Again, she was indifferent. For him, marrying was not important. A slightly rare situation, which I have barely seen in reality, however, is likely, although little, that an individual married another unintentionally.
In the second part, he came to think about his beloved after a long time. He thought if he had tired of being with someone who was sentenced to death, or if she was sick or dead. And then he added that I remember him was also indifferent. If she was dead, she didn’t interest her anymore. And he came to say that she seems normal to forget you after death. He did not think about her. He did not think about whether he had sent him letters or his visits, but after having spent time. This is something that is not usual. It is not normal for people not to think about their loved ones, or if they are going to forget when they are no longer in the world. They are situations that I have not heard about, but I do not know if they occur since the world is too complex, although there may be people of this type.
Meursalt’s neighbor told this story. He was about his beloved. He gave her money, but for her it was never enough, until he discovered that she was deceived. Then he beat him, and his brother did the same with him. This type of violence is often seen in the world. Violence in general, but, especially gender, is quite common in this society, unfortunately. Fortunately, a situation like this has not happened to me, or any person I know, but I would not like it to happen.
While in jail, read a story he found in a piece of newspaper. It was the story of a man who had left to get money, thus abandoning his mother and sister. He then returned with a woman and a son, in addition to money. He decided to make a joke to his family, who worked at a hotel. He asked for a room, taught them the money, and at night, they killed him and stayed with the money. Then his woman revealed the identity. The narrator seemed natural. In fact, he says that the traveler deserved it and that jokes should never be made.
After the trial, Mearsault commented that he was put in the worst possibilities: the appeal was rejected and he would have to die. Dying is something natural. It will all happen to us all or later. But the protagonist added that he didn’t care when to die. He didn’t care if he died at thirty or if he did the seventy. Anyway, for him life did not matter, he had no meaning. Did not deserve to be lived.
With all these acts, the reader gets to imagine an individual who gets carried away by circumstances and never considers anything. Does not think, do not reflect. He does not look beyond what happens in his face, nothing is raised. For Mearsault, things pass because. What else does the why? There is no reason.
But the reality is very different. Things do go through something and always have consequences, however small they are. Although it is true that some things that happen in life are not so important, they are small, there are others that carry consequences. Yes they have effects, and serious. However, as the protagonist does not choose what happens to him, but everything happens to him without more, or, at least, that is what he thinks, it is the others who have to look for what are the consequences of their actions.
Albert Camus puts this character in an extreme situation by making a man kill. In this scenario, it is the judge, the lawyer and the prosecutor who have to decide the punishment. They do not judge the murder itself, but judges the protagonist and his acts, his behavior. These characters are responsible for choosing Mearsault’s life, such as his mother’s death, to determine the final verdict.
While he is in jail, as he cannot do anything else to reflect, he begins to think about his life. Then he realizes what he has done and judges himself. He tries to understand each other and meet. And later he asks that on the day of his execution there are many spectators seeing him. He pray, then, that they hate him.
The protagonist is an individual who doesn’t care about anything. For him, nothing is black or white. Or not even gray. Because everything does not matter. Everything goes unnoticed around it. He doesn’t seek explanation for anything. Things happen because they happen. And he has no empathy. He does not feel love or affection for anyone. Life is insignificant by itself and tries to look for meaning. Only when he is in jail, Mearsault begins to look inside. He had not met until now. He was, for himself, a stranger, a stranger, a foreigner.
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