The Stranger by Albert Camus

The novel The Stranger, by Albert Camus, is about a character named Meursault, who is influenced by his chance encounters with his surroundings. He has a nonchalant attitude towards life, which parallels an existentialist point of view, meaning he does not believe in hope, destiny, personal will, or God. As a result, he is unattached to people and circumstances in his life. He thinks events and actions happen by chance, not by desire or motive. Therefore his relationship with nature acts as an important environmental stimulus that affects his well-being and direction in life—in particular, his relationship with the sun and light.