/lit/ - Literature

Because people are asking, I'll try to summarize my expert, indisputable and objectively correct opinion.
Before faggots come with the translation excuse, I did read it in the original French, even though I doubt a translation would miss much of what the book conveys.
Firstly, lets separate the areas where a book has merit in two. One is style. The other is content.


Stylistically, the Stranger is simple. It doesn't have a complex structure, its not really innovative in its presentation and follows a quite traditional sentence format. The first-person, short term narration is very quickly disposed of to an omnisciennt main character narrator talking from a far away future. None of these are especially a problem; it's just that l'Étranger doesn't get any points in this category.


In content, the book is quite shallow, in every way I can interpret it. Regarding Mersault specifically, we have two options. We either see him as a sympathetic character, whom we should try to empathize with and understand the viewpoint, or as a target to be criticized, à là Bráz Cubas or Holden Cauliflower.
Starting with the former, which I imagine was Camus' actual objective, Mersault comes off as the definition of an edgy redditor's self-insert. He is unmeritedly arrogant, terribly annoying in his insistence of his epic detachment and is still loved by everyone instantly. Every character is impressed with his intelligence, with his cool and mysterious attitude and his straightforwardness. Qts fall over instantly, priests are afraid of him, Arabs can't even shoot first. It's quite pathetic.
On the other hand, with the latter option, any critique the author offers about the character is quite poor. His beliefs are unquestioned, accepted and assimilated. Mersault is constantly patted on the back for being an annoying 14 year old, while his opponents are shown to be stupid meanie authorities, unable to control His mighty atheism and wit. The Arab is nothing than one more of the ones defeated by Mersault's epic coolness. In fact, he is quite quickly forgotten about, as if Camus justifies the killing as an epic feat of btfoing morality. In the end, even while facing public execution, Mersault comes out on top as he doesn't even care for the unwashed, moralfag masses that are going to delight in his killing.


In short, it sucks and everyone who likes it should justify themselves or go back RIGHT NOW
>>>/r/eddit

>>14717557
>>14717573
I'll believe you lads, but if they're also shit I'll come back and call you dummies

>>12748243
Sadly this
People have always been degenerates, dirty and careless hedonistic machines hungry for the next quick high
Turning into salt really is our best future

>>12563106
I’d kill many to love h...
Oh. She’s French. Meaning that she’s been riding the carousel since 14 and has probably already had 2 abortions by now

Oh well. Sad, tbqh