Why should I care about my mothers death? I mean she had to die one day and so does everybody else. We mourn our losses for a few weeks and then move on forget about them, isn’t this what everybody else does? so why should I be sad, it was her turn.
I finished reading this book and I believe it’s one of the best books I have read. Because it describes this feeling of voidness and numbness that a lot of people experience. The feeling that you keep on living but you don’t really care about it either you just go with the flow.
I hate the main character (Meursault)
Hate and fear are strong and important feelings (my girlfriend has told me this a many many times (she is a therapist)), I hate him because I sense some similarities between him and myself and the fear of being seen/judged just like him. But that’s the point of the book to share this numb way of living.
Why he does not care but gets himself into trouble? for something he could avoid and had nothing to do with him. Why he pauses and thinks and thinks whether he loves his girlfriend that have spend a lot of time laughing together? Why he is so numb about love, caring, relationships and etc? I did not wanted to relate to him.
Acceptance
Well now that I think about it more I think for one to not have volitile/impolsive feelings they should be able to accept them, but like does accepting at some point make you numb to all the feelings at once? Did he just accept it all, everything? is being able to deal with your emotions even a good thing?
Lazy
Reading the book you will notice he mentions rejecting or doing something because he was too lazy to do otherwise. I have to admit, he is damn relatable in this regard.
Inglorious bastards scene Where the English spy reveals his identity by saying “Damn good wine” to the SS officer that he hates but offered the English spy good wine.
What’s your favorite fruit? When people ask me this question I answer by saying that I like easy fruits like banana because I’m too lazy to peal and slice the other ones… So I couldn’t but relate to him in this regard. (I’m not lazy though I just pick easy choices)
Is being numb ok?
I believe it’s definitely an advantage if you don’t turn into a psychopath, life is full of suffering after all. being outcome independent regardless of what hurdles life throws in your way, somewhat stoic.
Meursault was sentenced to death but he didn’t really care he wanted to live this moment that he lived in, and think and dream about other things. I think this is the peak of not giving a fuck and Hakuna Matata or go with the flow. This characteristic about him repeats in the book many times.
Imagine you lose all your progress will you be able to start from scratch? do you enjoy losing your in game progress and start all over again? (I personly don’t, but I know many of you do actually like to replay games several times.)
I was listening to this interview with Mathew Machonehey (The Art of Living a Courageous Life) and at the end of the podcast he mentions that believe in something. believe in something to keep on living, even if it’s nothing believe in nothing, nothing is a thing. he said it with his cool accent that he is known for.
If you believe in something, be sane and be kind of numb or rational about things I think it’s one of the biggest advantages you can have in life. Because you can endure failure and keep on going
Believe is a strong word, it can be interpreted in many ways some might believe in harmful things and do violence and be numb to all the pain they cause but that’s not what I meant.
A perfect example of this (I mean the man is dedicated):
These were my raw thoughts about the book I have not read anything about it but I will, so that I can take the most out of it. I enjoy thinking about what I learned after reading a book without looking at reviews and writing them down. maybe I’m wrong on so many levels here.
Some good lines from The Stranger by Albert Camus
Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know.
After talking about marriage/love with Marie and saying it doesn’t matter to him and they can do it
She pointed out that marriage is a serious thing. I said, “No”.
Examination about his personality
he said he heard people were describing me as taciturn and withdrawn person, I said: “It’s just I don’t have much to say”
Examination about the murder
“There are one or two things that I don’t quite understand I’m sure you’ll help me clear them up” I said “it was all pretty simple”
When he tries to explain why he murdered the Arab guy. Looks like he was bothered by the heat.
The reason I killed the man was because of sun.
When he talks about not being able to meet women with the guard in prison.
I thought it was unfair treatment, but he said that’s exactly why you are in prison. What do you mean that’s why?, “Well yes – freedom that’s why. They have taken away your freedom”