All texts exist in context. The context of The Outsider is French-Algeria in the 1940's. This setting forms the natural and cultural environment in which the characters live and move; it is the air Meursault breathes and is in fact an extension of his character. Not only does it reflect and complement his character but it also governs his actions, foreshadows them, and creates an atmosphere that is appropriate for the existentialist theme, which runs through the novel. On a more prosaic note, the colonial setting allows Camus to focus on Meursault while utterly ignoring the murdered Arab without jeopardizing the credibility of his story.

Algeria provides more than mere geography and locale; it is the background against which we see Meursault and the events of the novel. As such it exerts an influence on his character and...