Albert Camus Interview

Question: How was your understanding of cultural and contextual considerations of the work developed through the interactive oral?

Work Used: The Stranger by Albert Camus

Through this interactive oral, I learned about the racial relations between the French and the Arabs in Algeria. The negative tension between the French and the Arabs comes from the fact that the French had colonized Algeria and controlled the majority of the wealth in their colony. As a result, the French used their power to benefit themselves while treating the Arabs with inequality. This led to multiple revolts by the Arabs and in turn elicited violent responses from the French. Consequently, a social rift between the French and the Arabs developed during this time.

The

Now knowing that the Arabs lacked equal rights and were perceived to be inferior to the French, I realized the complete absurdity of Meursault’s trial in both social and racial context of the time period. Camus shows that a murder of an Arab should not be tried differently from any other murder case. Even if such a case were considered an abnormality in the cultural context, the equal treatment of Arabs should not be seen as irrational, but rather essential. The racial inequalities present in Algeria also made me understand why most of the prisoners were Arabs. Camus made the majority of the prisoners Arabs to demonstrate how preconceived prejudices against the Arabs ruled society during this time. Camus’s depiction of Algerian society in The Stranger reveals the discrimination that the Arabs faced and presents his criticisms toward the injustices against

When having their individual discussions with Meursault, both the magistrate and the chaplain talk about the reactions that all men had in Meursault’s situation. After seeing Meursault’s absence of remorse for his actions, the magistrate says that he has “never seen a soul as hardened” as Meursault’s (69). In addition to this, the magistrate asserts that “all men [believe] in God,” and he centers his life’s meaning in this universal belief (69). The magistrate’s meaning in life relates to the “fundamental rules” constructed by society and opposed by Meursault (102). Since Meursault does not fit within the ordinary pattern experienced by everyone, he is seen as an “abyss” that threatens society (102). Camus reproduces these views when Meursault is approached by the chaplain. In the conversation with the chaplain, Meursault describes his disinterest in God and regards it as seemingly “unimportant” (116). In response, the chaplain talks about his previous experience with all the men in Meursault’s position who have “turned to Him” (116-117). These opinions held by the chaplain and the magistrate show that they feel conflicted by the fact that Meursault does not exhibit the emotions of every other man. They have never had to associate with someone who does not take religion seriously and shows