Camus and the Enigma of the Stranger

As soon as Albert Camus is mentioned, our thoughts immediately turn to existential philosophy, that philosophical current that leans towards complete freedom of thought and also emphasizes the uniqueness of man, as he is a being of thought, freedom, will, and choice. To the extent that this current grants the individual complete freedom, it also accompanies it with responsibility. Therefore, this current primarily aims to affirm the act of freedom and directly link it to responsibility. Perhaps these ideas constitute the core of Albert Camus's thinking, and through his writings, it becomes clear how much he believes in freedom and how much he desires to liberate himself from the constraints that accompany the individual.

Albert Camus delved into the worlds of the rebellious and absurd human in his novel "The Stranger," questioning the nature of a life governed by meaninglessness. This life is what defines the meaning of life for Camus, a life that does not deserve more than it is worth, and we should deal with it indifferently. He wrote, "I could never regret anything because I was always captivated by what would happen... by what could happen today or tomorrow." Therefore, in most of his works, he attempts to convey his view of reality through a lens of absurdity, as the value of life, in his opinion, emerges when we do not assign any value to life.

He wrote, "When I think about my situation carefully, I don't find myself unhappy or miserable. When I was a student, I had many ambitions, but when I was forced to leave school, I quickly realized that all of this had no real importance." Through this, Camus tried to describe the Stranger, who does not attribute more value to life, people, or things than they actually have. He deals with everything without the slightest concern and tries to live a life without people's interference because he does not interfere in their lives. He lives a kind of rebellion against society, and life, in his view, is almost like nothingness. He says in this regard: "Everyone knows that life is not worth living, and I was not ignorant of the fact that dying at thirty or seventy is the same." Perhaps this was the character trait that dominated the Stranger's personality, who lost his sense of things to the extent that he did not care about his mother's death, and before that, he took her to the asylum without any pangs of conscience.

Camus's "The Stranger" remains strange in its protagonist's actions and thoughts compared to society, as he clings to his principles, indifferent to life and society. He was characterized by a kind of rebellion against everything, remaining so absurd that things, in his view, do not warrant the slightest attention. He adhered to his principles until the end, not preoccupying himself with what is unworthy nor intervening in what does not concern him. Even when asked to do so, he merely confirms his indifference to everything. It seems that "The Stranger" is a kind of spotlight on Albert Camus's character, explaining his perspective on everything and the nature of his personality that leans towards rebellion.