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The Stranger by Albert Camus is a candid insight into the dealings of an introvert with his local community. Beginning with the main characters dealings with his mothers demise, the book starts and ends mundanely. One may find it difficult to relate to the characters sheer indifference towards the outcome of his life, both small and large decisions (as society would label them) appear to be indistinguishable to the character. However this inability to relate will be compensated by a gained perspective on life and its meaning.

In the events following his mothers demise, Camus provides an interesting contrast between the main characters introversion (which might even be as radical as animosity towards humanity) and his brief but numerous sexual experiences with his girlfriend. When the concept of marriage is introduced, he expresses the same indifference seen when any previous decision is presented. This signifies the main character only plans to indulge in the pleasures of a relationship, but not prepared to manage the responsibility of something more.

When facing a pivotal decision of his life, the main character seems to attribute the outcome to precarious factors. Whether this was self-serving bias (given the outcome of the decision was ultimately adverse to the characters future) or the authors intent to illustrate the uncertainty of life is interpretational. Regardless of the nature, the book progresses in one direction indefinitely. The character faces what one would consider the darkest moments of his life, however his attitude towards the events are quite positive.

At the finally of novel, the main character is faced with a verdict, and in the last moments of his life, ponders hypothetical situations in which he has not been handed this fate and begins to think of what he would do differently. Only when it his life is threatened does he start to value it. The final message from the author is strong and important, we may live differently, but we all die the same.