1. The Stranger EQ: How do we give meaning to our lives?
By Albert Camus
Some info from

2. Albert Camus Born in Algeria in 1913, occupied by France
Father French soldier who died during WWI
Member of anti-Nazi group in Paris & editor of their newspaper
Married two times
Pacifist

3. Camus’ Beliefs Did not believe in God
Most of his main characters either disbelieve or wrestle with the problems of belief
Believes that man has no excuse for failure except himself

4. Historical Background
Setting of The Stranger - Takes place in Algiers (Algeria), North Africa - Land of blistering African sun - Located by the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert - Sea is visible at every corner - Considered the gateway to Africa

5. Algeria Algeria is colonized by France, Algiers = capital
People live side-by-side (the conquerors and the conquered)
The conquerors = the French who had all the privileges
The conquered = Arab-Muslims who were discriminated against
Algiers was a bi-racial city where racism existed

7. Existentialism
Existentialism = man succeeds because of his strength, or lack of it, in himself
Existentialists celebrate the human existence **Existence precedes essence--we first exist and then we must find our own unique vocation that will become our essence. We cannot be confined by other societal constructs of happiness, this would be our essence preceding our existence and limiting our own individual freedom to independently exist

8. Existentialism Continued
Emphasis on present
It is not a matter of being right in the eyes of a God, but of being right in [one’s] own eyes.
The understanding of a situation by someone involved in that situation is superior to that of a detached, objective observer.

9. Absurdity
According to Camus, existence is pointless, meaningless, and irrational because nobody knows when his or her life may be abruptly terminated
Absurdity = man’s futile search for meaning in an indifferent, meaningless universe.

10. Absurdity Continued
Basically, we must, at some time, confront nothingness and realize the impossibility of finding ultimate justification for the choices that we must make. So we fret and fumble about the choices we make by our feelings of dread and anxiety, but in all reality our existence is so infinitely small in the scope of the whole universe that it really doesn’t matter.

11. Disregarding Society’s Accepted Behaviors
Society deems certain behaviors as normal/rational
When people don’t follow these behaviors, others attempt to create rational reasons as to why
Meursault disregards normal behaviors

12. Importance of Physical World
Mersault is more interested in physical aspects and sensations than social or emotional aspects
Physical descriptions in the novel are vivid and full of imagery

13. Sun and Heat Imagery
Sun imagery and heat play an important role in The Stranger
For Mersault, the sun makes him feel smothered and oppressed