The Outsider

I just finished reading Albert Camus’ ‘The Outsider’, a classic piece of absurdist writing. The main character Meursault, is a frenchman living in Algiers at the start of the 20th century, a literal outsider. Meursault refuses to conform to society’s values and norms, but not in a Vivienne Westwood PUNK way, he merely accepts what is, has no ambition and little desire and for this society rejects him.

A quote, I forget the origin, that is floating at the top of mind recently is, ‘Whatever we are here for, it is not happiness’. If you know the author let me know.

We make much of the pursuit of happiness. How happy are we really? And is this point, or is there a point?

Some of the questions Camus asks, and we should perhaps too.

Perhaps best to just feel the sun on our skin, even if it is the glint from the guillotine.

pierre