Another classic from my youth. What in the world could I have gotten from this when I was 18 years old? I was struck this time with similarities with Hemingway stylistically--especially the "no ideas but in things." The abundance of sensual details supports the everyday commonplace life of Mersault as opposed to the extraordinary details on the Spanish Civil War or the Italian front in WWI.
At age 18, Mersault was something of a hero to me, but he does not come across as very sympathetic now, especially in his relationship with Raymond and his agreeing to write the letter to Raymond's ex girlfriend, and his refusal to keep Raymond from beating her. And he seems to make excuses for his choices from his lethargy brought on by the sun. He doesn't take responsibility for his choices. Mersault is "everyman," condemned to die in a meaningless life. Condemned to life in prison with no freedom but with a sense of starting life over, regardless of the circumstances.
We're here by fluke, searching for meaning where there is no meaning. Mersault never searches for anything beyond the sensual detail of his experiences, and that's all there is. "I laid my heart open to the tender indifference of the universe."
Author: Camus, Albert
Date Published: 1942
Length: 4hr 14min
Narrator: Davis, Jonathan
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