Introduction to The StrangerA NOVEL BY ALBERT CAMUS

History of Algeria Evidence of human presence since 4000 B.C.

Settlers include African civilizations, Romans, Arabs, Turks, Europeans

The Turks win control of the area and allow

pirates to monitor as representatives of

Ottoman Empire

French become involved because of

political disagreement with the Ottomans

French army lands in 1830 and begins

colonizing the area

French colonizers face rebellions and

a large Muslim population Both groups want equal rights

Conflicts in AlgeriaLeft: Place de la republique, Algiers, 1899

French settlers have ruling rights, excluding natives, Muslims, and others from power French force Muslims to pay higher taxes

French hold the majority of farmable land

French government decides to grant French citizenship to Algerian Jews but not Muslims Furthers separation between different groups

Conflicts last until the mid 1900s

Algeria in the early 1900s

Life in Algeria for Albert Camus Born November 7, 1913 in

Mondovi, Algeria

Father dies in WWI before Camus is a year old and mother is physically disabled

Grows up in poverty

Receives a scholarship to attend school

Contracts tuberculosis which stays with him for the duration of his life

Receives a degree in philosophy in 1936 from University of Algiers

Begins writing stories and essays reflecting his life in Algeria with the common themes:

Poverty, racism, corruption, mistreatment of women

Vulnerability of human life

Never-ending status of world

Works as a playwright and actor, eventually becomes journalist for Alger-Republicain in 1938

Moves to France at start of WWII and joins resistance movement

Awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957

Dies in automobile accident in 1960

Philosophy in The Stranger

Existentialism

Relates to philosophical ethics

Popular in 19th and 20th centuries

“Center[s] [on] the uniqueness and isolation of individual experience in a universe indifferent or even hostile to man, regarding human existence as unexplainable, and emphasizing man's freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of his acts.”

(https://www.prestwickhouse.com/samples/304523.pdf)

Absurdism

“A philosophy based on the belief that the universe is irrational and meaningless and that the search for order brings the individual into conflict with the universe” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/absurdism)

Camus says this provides true freedom because humans do not have to search for confirmation from a greater being or entity or have a purpose

(http://www.philosophy-index.com/existentialism/absurd.php)

Discussion questions1. Existence is absurd and true meaning in life is impossible.

2. Day to day existence is filled with anxiety and fear.

3. The idea that I am born into a particular time, place, family, and economic environment is absurd.

4. When I am born, I am undefined without any prior essence or preconceived personality or soul.

5. In life, I must make choices regardless of what’s best for others. I can only choose what’s best for me.

Additional Sources Consulted

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/plaintexthistories.asp?historyid=ac92

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/acamus.htm

http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/00/pwillen1/lit/indexa.htm

https://www.prestwickhouse.com/samples/304523.pdf