The Meaning of the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus
Albert Camus' creativity is one of the most important literature phenomenon of the 20th century. In his writings, the author considers the deep and complex issues related to human existence in the context of a total loss of faith. The novel The Stranger is considered the Camus' most important work. This story touches upon the problem of faith in God and the absurdity of life in detail. The theme of the absurd is not accidental for the culture of the 20th century, in which the universality of common sense and logical constructs lose their importance at all levels. A perusal of The Stranger suggests the ambiguous thoughts about faith in God that makes the reader think about the sense of life and its core values. In today's world, faith in God becomes something unusual and naive, but if one considers this issue seriously, it becomes evident that faith is the salvation of something greater than mind.
The Problem of Faith and Personal Experience. The problem of faith became an urgent issue after the Second World War, when humanity was aware of the fact that life was very fragile and that death could occur at any moment. Camus's creative work conceived such a notion as hopelessness, which is part of the existential worldview. Life ceases to have a deeper meaning, because it is interrupted by death, after which a man simply disappears. I understand what it means to lose faith and to be pushed into a blind alley. This applies not only to me, but also to every person of my age. Faith is a hard work, but it is not an innate quality or a part of education. The Stranger by Albert Camus gives a clear understanding of the problem. The protagonist Meursault simply do not understand the essence of faith. He does not believe not only in God, he does not believe in anything and it destroys him. The world that surrounds Meursault seems pointless to him, and vice versa. That is, Meursault is not a stranger because society rejects him; he is a stranger because he rejects society and all its beliefs. In my opinion, faith allows a person to have something more than just a rational sense. Rationality and logic can always lead to a dead end, but faith is always salutary. If one considers the nature and purpose of faith with the given examples, it becomes obvious that the majority of people accept faith in God in critical situations. When there is no possibility to save oneself, a man turns to God and receives salvation. I understand Meursault's feelings, his loneliness, and desolation. Almost all people are similar to the stages of his life and everyone deals with them differently.
The protagonist does not believe in God in Camus' novel. He just does not understand the essence of this phenomenon and its benefits. The events and actions of the people who surround him seem senseless and primitive. This crisis of faith leads to Meursault's tragic end. Though he does not commit suicide, nevertheless, he is responsible for his death. The lack of faith gradually leads him to the self-destruction and death. I believe that faith is necessary for a man; otherwise, a person becomes just an instrument of public operations. Lack of faith leads a person to the degradation of the spiritual world, which entails the loss of the propensity for empathy. Faith in God increases the value of human life, multiplies any sense, any emotion, and makes feelings more profound.
Undoubtedly, one should not blindly believe in God, if a God is imposed, as it would eventually lead to fanaticism or simply would not produce any fruit. In my opinion, every person should understand that the essence of faith and its predominant features. Believing is difficult, as it requires a lot of faith and spiritual efforts along with the actions. Many people spend much of life to come to believe. I cannot say that I am a very religious person. I do not go to church and pray rarely. At the same time, I have my personal understanding of God and believe in my own way. As a result, I can say that the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus made me understand many complicated issues and pointed to the importance of faith in human life.
Reference
Camus, A. (2011). The Stranger. New York: Infobase Pub. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
