Which critical theory can be adapted to Albert Camus' The Stranger?

You could
use Colonialism as a critical theory. The novel takes place in Algeria presumably in the early
1940s since the book was published in 1942. France occupied Algeria from 1830 until
1962.

The subject of colonialism and race is often obscured by the
philosophically overwhelming themes of Absurdity and Existentialism. But the aspects of race and
colonialism play a central role in the novel. In fact, the relation between French-Algerians and
Arabs in the novel reveals a Eurocentric perspective. Meursault only associates with other
French-Algerians. The Arab he kills is never given a name. The Arab is literally some Other
person who unfortunately falls into the path of Camus Absurd hero; and here, Absurd has to
refer to the philosophy of Absurdity as well as the general concept of absurd as being
irrational and illogical.

Criticism of this novel tends to focus so much on
the philosophical aspect that it ignores the racial aspects. Meursault might have arrived at
some philosophical epiphany about existence. But his self-involved philosophical brooding should
not be an excuse for murder. Meursault is heroic in his absolute refusal to accept the beliefs
of society, but hes guilty of murder. He does what he can to mentally remove himself from this
society (and/or the world) but he still exists in it and must acknowledge that his actions will
engage others. He never really acknowledges this.

The fact that the Arab is
never given a name is really telling. I dont know if Camus was making a subtle point about
colonialism with this move, but it is there whether he intended it or not. This is a clear
example where a white Europeans racial Other plays victim to the member of the colonizing
nation. Meursault is arrested and executed but this doesn't erase the fact that a man was
killed. The novel is completely focused on Meursault's quest for meaning. The Arab simply
becomes a statistic: the "one" that has been killed.

You could
argue that Meursault's indifference is not racially motivated; he would have killed anyone of
any race that day. After all, his nonchalant attitude was the same with his mother. But you
could also argue that colonialism and race did play a role. Reacting to his mother's death and
actually killing another person are two very different things. Meursault is the narrator, so it
is he who does not give "the Arab" a name.

The court and certainly
the priest seem to be more appalled at Meursault's belief system than they are with the murder.
They are more concerned that his religious and cultural beliefs are different from theirs. Thus,
they are more unsettled that he is unlike them: an "Other." It is his difference, not
his crime, that they focus on.