Scriptural Simplicity and Thematic Complexity in L’étranger by Albert Camus

Albert Camus, in L’étranger, adopts a simple, spare writing style to explore some highly complex themes. The novel is characterized by short, direct sentences, an everyday lexicon and an absence of elaborate figures of speech. This stylistic choice creates a distancing effect and reflects the emotional detachment of the protagonist, Meursault. The first-person narrative, centered on Meursault, offers a limited, subjective perspective, reinforcing the character’s sense of alienation from society and social norms. This essay highlights the novel’s antinomic dimension and analyzes its implications. Drawing on Gérard Genette’s narratological approach and Julia Kristeva’s semiotics, it shows that Camus has succeeded in using simple linguistic tools to address major themes such as the absurd, death and justice. The concept of the absurd, a key element in Camus’s philosophy, is embodied in Meursault’s reactions and attitudes, shown through his indifference to social conventions and the quest for meaning. Simplicité scripturale et complexité thématique dans L’étranger d’Albert Camus