The Outsider

The Outsider follows Meursault, a detached young man in colonial Algeria, whose indifferent reaction to his mother’s death sets off a chain of events that spirals into violence. His emotional detachment and refusal to conform to societal expectations make him a stranger in his own world. Camus explores themes of absurdism, questioning the meaning of existence and the arbitrary nature of morality. The novel’s stark prose mirrors Meursault’s dispassionate view of life, even as he faces a shocking crime and a trial that judges him more for his beliefs than his actions. The story crescendos in a haunting meditation on freedom, guilt, and the human need for connection. A cornerstone of existential literature, it challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about authenticity and societal judgment.