A Smart Classic 20th Century Literature


Source : bukukita.com
(translated into Indonesian version)


  • Indonesian Title   : Orang Aneh
  • Author                    : Albert Camus
  • Translator              : Max Arifin
  • Year                         : 2017
  • Number of pages  : 168

ISBN (10) 979-168-469-3
First impression that came to my mind right after I finished reading this book is that everything is somehow worth accepted. You may think it sounds cliche, yet if we do accept something especially the hard or difficult ones, you won't feel so much like it is. Despite it makes us feel unhappy, but at least we don't feel like being punished or cursed. Thus, it is less burdensome and that's what the main character of the story (Mersault) had chosen, something that can be seen from his behaviors and also his will.

I have never thought about letting myself to read a book which is written by a philosopher like Albert Camus since it is mostly paradoxical. In fact, it is undeniable that the book, through the main charachter, shows us a side of human absurdity and at the same time open our eyes and broaden our view concerning existentialism.

This is actually my first review after bunch of books I had read and I guess the idea of the story particularly the values behind it, are quite interesting to share. The original version of the novel itself was written in French and was published in 1942 with the title L’Étranger or in English The Stranger. It is about a man who lives in North Africa and unfortunately kills an Arab man then sentenced to death. Camus seemed to give an idea that Mersault is a kind of indifferent person who refuses to involve feelings and emotions into his life. This is supported by first-person narrative view in the first and second part of the novel.

In the second part, we are taken to his fate after the murder where he confess that it was accidental and it all occurred because of threat factor. Unfortunately, his public prosecutor has chosen not to believe it. He attributes the case to Mersault's abnormal behavior in his mother funeral. Based on that fact, he thinks that Mersault is inhumane and that can be one of the strongest supporting factors related to the murder. While Mersault thinks the opposite.

Aku sendiri tidak merasa menyesal atas apa yang telah kuperbuat. Menurut pendapatku, ia terlalu melebih-lebihkan masalahnya dan aku ingin sekali memperoleh kesempatan untuk menjelaskan padanya dengan cara-cara yang bersahabat dan ramah bahwa selama hidupku aku tidak pernah menyesal atas apa saja yang kukerjakan. Aku telah menjadi orang yang memikirkan masa sekarang atau masa depan dan bukan masa yang telah lampau.

Regardless of any speculation about his nature, in my opinion Mersault is the type of person who is realistic and not long-winded. Yet his thoughts and attitudes are unacceptable to certain people. From another perspective, it makes me think about how people can easily throw judgement to another not only based on what they see but also by what they think is right. The author seemed to throw insinuation in sarcastic way too about how society can not be fully tolerant of certain views and choices which someone's made cause they feel it's all contrary to common values ​​strongly held by the local community. Apparently such thing has happened for many years till now.

Overall, this novel is recommended to make us be more open minded.



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