Discuss the European-Arab Relation in Albert Camus’ Novel, “The Stranger/The Outsider”

Answer

Discuss the European-Arab relation in Albert Camus’ novel, “The Stranger/The Outsider” 

In “The Outsider,” published in 1942, Albert Camus (1913-1960) subtly highlights the tense and unequal relationship between Europeans and Arabs in colonial Algeria.

The novel is set in a time when Algeria was under French colonial rule. The interactions between the European characters and the Arabs reflect the social and racial hierarchy of the period.

Dehumanization and Alienation: The novel portrays Arabs as marginalized and largely voiceless. They are not given names or personalities, which dehumanizes them. When Meursault and Raymond encounter the Arabs, they describe them as: 

staring at us … as if we were nothing but stones or dead trees.

This description reflects the mutual alienation and hostility between the two groups, with Arabs portrayed as silent, distant, and mysterious figures outside of the European world.

Power Dynamics and Colonial Injustice: Raymond’s treatment of his Arab mistress shows the exploitative power dynamics. He beats her and uses Meursault to further degrade her, viewing her as an object of revenge.

Again, the climactic moment of the novel, when Meursault kills an Arab man, is driven not by personal hatred but by a combination of the oppressive sun and the tension between the two groups. The Arab remains nameless and is reduced to a symbol of the conflict.

To wrap up, the novel thus critiques the deep racial divide and the lack of understanding between the colonizers and the colonized. It highlights the injustice inherent in such relationships.