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A review by zxcvbnmackie
The Outsider by Albert Camus
5.0
I found myself really attached to Mersault when I read this book. His story can be interpreted in multiple ways, most certainly. Here is my interpretation:
Mersault seems to be the only character in his conservative and judgemental world who gives a truthful and unapologetic portrayal regarding the more misunderstood and underdiscussed nature of the human being. The non-malevolently honest, introverted, emotionally deatched and seemingly carefree person refuses to adhere to things such as the opinions, assumptions and expectations of society and its members within. In essence, an "Outsider" because he does not try to become someone he isn't in order to fit in. He isn't predictable. He is, however, a natural non-conformist who is uninfluenced by the herd mentality of how people are expected to behave in a "civilised society". Simply speaking, he is a living and breathing symbolic expression of what it means to be an individual. Minus the murder bit, he is pretty relatable. Although, like most of us I'd be prone to the classic questions such as: "What was it like?" or "how did it feel?". Maybe he's more alarmingly relatable than we'd care to admit.
Camus based Mersault on his friend Galindo, who he considered both intelligent and strange. Given that the novella was published in 1942 (a time before Asperger's Syndrome was defined) it is suggested that Camus essentially produced the first account of a character with this disorder. Being autistic, I can now see why I had connected so deeply with the novella.
Camus's fluency and ability to deliver throughout this story are simply magnificent.
- Highly recommended.
Mersault seems to be the only character in his conservative and judgemental world who gives a truthful and unapologetic portrayal regarding the more misunderstood and underdiscussed nature of the human being. The non-malevolently honest, introverted, emotionally deatched and seemingly carefree person refuses to adhere to things such as the opinions, assumptions and expectations of society and its members within. In essence, an "Outsider" because he does not try to become someone he isn't in order to fit in. He isn't predictable. He is, however, a natural non-conformist who is uninfluenced by the herd mentality of how people are expected to behave in a "civilised society". Simply speaking, he is a living and breathing symbolic expression of what it means to be an individual. Minus the murder bit, he is pretty relatable. Although, like most of us I'd be prone to the classic questions such as: "What was it like?" or "how did it feel?". Maybe he's more alarmingly relatable than we'd care to admit.
Camus based Mersault on his friend Galindo, who he considered both intelligent and strange. Given that the novella was published in 1942 (a time before Asperger's Syndrome was defined) it is suggested that Camus essentially produced the first account of a character with this disorder. Being autistic, I can now see why I had connected so deeply with the novella.
Camus's fluency and ability to deliver throughout this story are simply magnificent.
- Highly recommended.