The Stranger / Albert Camus
Let me tell you a story that's a little bit grown-up, but I'll make it easy to understand, like when we talk about feelings. It's a story called "The Stranger," written by a very clever man named Albert Camus.
Imagine a boy named Meursault. He lives in a sunny place near the sea. One day, his mother, who lived in a home for older people, passed away. Meursault went to her funeral, but he didn't feel very sad, at least not in the way people expected. He didn't cry much.
After the funeral, he went to the beach and met a girl named Marie. They liked each other and went swimming and to the movies. Life just went on for Meursault.
Then, one hot day, he and his friend Raymond were at the beach. Raymond got into a fight with some other men. Meursault ended up shooting one of the men. He didn't really have a strong reason, it just sort of happened because of the sun and the heat and his feelings at that moment.
Because of this, Meursault was arrested and put in jail. People were more upset that he didn't cry at his mother's funeral than about the shooting itself. They thought he was a strange person because he didn't show his feelings the way they thought he should.
In jail, Meursault thought a lot about his life and how everyone seemed to judge him. He realized that maybe life doesn't always have a big meaning, and maybe it's okay to just feel what you feel at the time. He accepted that he would be punished for what he did.
The most important feeling in this story is about being true to yourself, even if other people don't understand it. Meursault was a "stranger" to the way most people felt and acted.
The Stranger / Albert Camus: Study Guide
Quiz
- Who is the author of "The Stranger"? What genre of literature is it considered?
- Describe Meursault's reaction to his mother's death. How did this differ from societal expectations?
- What is the significance of Marie's character in the story? How does her relationship with Meursault unfold?
- Explain the circumstances leading to the shooting on the beach. What role did the environment play in this event?
- What was the primary reason people were upset with Meursault during his trial? Was it solely about the shooting?
- How does Meursault's perspective on life and meaning evolve while he is in jail?
- What does the story suggest about being "true to yourself" even when it's misunderstood by others?
- How does the "sun and heat" motif contribute to Meursault's actions and the overall atmosphere of the story?
- What is the central "feeling" or theme that the study guide highlights as most important in "The Stranger"?
- The study guide refers to Meursault as a "stranger." To what is he a stranger, and what does this imply about his character?
Answer Key
- The author of "The Stranger" is Albert Camus. The excerpt describes it as a "grown-up" story that explores feelings, hinting at its philosophical nature, often categorized as absurdism or existentialism.
- Meursault did not feel very sad or cry much at his mother's funeral, which was contrary to how people expected him to react. His lack of overt emotional display became a central point of judgment against him.
- Marie is a girl Meursault meets at the beach after his mother's funeral. They like each other, go swimming, and to the movies, indicating a casual and immediate connection that represents a continuation of Meursault's seemingly indifferent life.
- The shooting occurred on a very hot day at the beach when Meursault and his friend Raymond were involved in a conflict with other men. Meursault shot one of the men, and the text suggests it happened almost spontaneously, influenced by the overwhelming heat, sun, and his feelings at that moment, rather than a strong, deliberate reason.
- During his trial, people were more upset and judgmental about Meursault's lack of tears at his mother's funeral than they were about the shooting itself. They viewed his emotional detachment as evidence of him being a "strange person" who didn't conform to societal expectations of feeling.
- While in jail, Meursault spends a lot of time reflecting on his life and how others judge him. He comes to realize that life might not always have a grand, inherent meaning, and he accepts his feelings as they are, rather than conforming to others' expectations.
- The story suggests that the most important feeling is about being true to oneself, even if others do not understand or approve of one's actions and emotional responses. Meursault embodies this by remaining detached from societal norms.
- The sun and heat are depicted as overwhelming for Meursault, influencing his actions to the point where they contribute to the shooting. This motif highlights how external, physical sensations can profoundly affect Meursault's state and lead to significant events, suggesting a deterministic element to his actions.
- The central feeling highlighted as most important in this story is "about being true to yourself, even if other people don't understand it." This emphasizes the theme of authenticity and individualism in the face of societal pressure.
- Meursault is described as a "stranger to the way most people felt and acted." This implies that his emotional responses and perception of life are fundamentally different from conventional societal norms, making him an outsider in terms of his internal world.
Essay Format Questions
- Discuss how Meursault's emotional detachment, particularly regarding his mother's death and the shooting, serves as a central theme in "The Stranger." How does this detachment challenge conventional societal expectations and norms of grief and empathy?
- Analyze the role of the environment, specifically the sun and heat, in influencing Meursault's actions and emotional state throughout the story. How do these elements contribute to the narrative's exploration of absurdity or fate?
- Examine the concept of being "true to yourself" as presented through Meursault's character. In what ways does his authenticity clash with or subvert the judgments placed upon him by society and the legal system?
- How does "The Stranger" portray the idea of meaninglessness or the lack of inherent purpose in life, particularly through Meursault's experiences in jail and his eventual acceptance of his fate?
- Compare and contrast society's judgment of Meursault for his emotional responses versus his criminal act. What does this distinction reveal about the values and priorities of the society depicted in the story?
Glossary of Key Terms
- Absurdism: A philosophical concept, closely associated with Albert Camus, suggesting that humanity's search for inherent meaning in the universe is fundamentally in conflict with the actual lack of such meaning. This conflict is the "absurd."
- Albert Camus: A French philosopher, author, and journalist, widely known for his works that explore themes of absurdism, existentialism, and the human condition, including "The Stranger."
- Authenticity: The quality of being true to one's own personality, spirit, or character, even in the face of societal pressures or expectations. In "The Stranger," Meursault embodies this through his unconventional emotional responses.
- Emotional Detachment: A state of unresponsiveness or lack of emotional involvement, often perceived as indifference. Meursault exhibits this, particularly regarding events that conventionally evoke strong emotions like grief or remorse.
- Meursault: The protagonist of Albert Camus's novel "The Stranger," characterized by his apathetic and emotionally detached view of the world, leading to his alienating perception by others and self-identification as a "stranger."
- The Stranger: The title of Albert Camus's novel, which refers to the protagonist Meursault's feeling of alienation and his unconventional nature that makes him a "stranger" to societal norms and expectations.
( N.B. 위 콘텐츠는 Google AI Studio 로 제작한 것입니다 )