Wednesday, April 22, 2009
"The Stranger" was written by Albert Camus and originally published in the French language in 1942. It is a novel that brilliantly depicts the depressing story of a young French man named Mersault. Mersault lives in a French colony in Algeria, Africa. If you read the book, it is important to understand the time and place of Mersault's life, as this plays a central role in his story. Remember that numerous European countries occupied various parts of Africa for many years, as they tried to "right the ways" of the African people and show them "how they should really live"—aka: colonization. Mersault's story also centers on Arab culture. Remember Arab societies reflect the importance of honor. If a certain family was shamed, the only way to restore honor to that family is to kill a member of the other family. This results in family feuds that can last for generations.
