The Outsider a mother's perspective. Review on Outsider, The - Albert Camus

I have read the three reviews for this book. I found them interesting but all focused on the trial, the priest etc. I found it interesting that no one has mentioned the reason for him being an outsider. It is obvious by his reaction to the dog that he identified with it. His relationship with his mother was similar to Samasson with his dog. Love/hate. THe never felt love and affection. He was obviously abused by him mother and knew no different to say this, hower this left him unable to function with other people. In these days this would have been found out by psychologists. This is what dates the story. He obviously had no idea how to interact and the first person to offer friendship was Raymond but his condition was to do whatever he asked. When Raymond first asked Mersault to write the letter to his girlfriend. Mersault said no. Raymond didn't argue he just took out paper and pen and started dictating. Then when he asked him to go to the police station he didn't think twice, this was his first friend and he didn't want to upset him.

The other thing is the race theme. Why were the gang always referred to as the Arabs. If there was no racism why were they not given names or identities. This is one of the factors that enabled Mersault to disassociate himself when he pulled the trigger. He also never expected to be tried or punished for the crime. Why did he think this, because it was in his mind self defense, or because of the race of the victim. Why did the Arab also assume he had to attack when Mersault moved toward him, but the race factor was never mentioned.

Then in the court they insist on the christian angle. Insisting he must believe in God or something. The court investigator like an inquisitor. I didn't feel the priest was important, except to try and find out if he had a conscience. We could almost believe that the priest was his conscience. So did the priest exist out of his imagination.

It was disappointing that it ended before the execution. We will always wonder if he would have said something that got him a pardon, maybe an appeal.

All the way through the book I kept remembering the film ''Being there'' with Peter Sellers, this was similar where he was disassociated from society and honest, but in a simple way. He became president of the US because people kept twisting his words and finding hidden meanings that of course were not there but they felt no one could be that honest so they had to dig to find a way to make him fit into their ideals. If people had done that with Mersault it may have been different.