The Misunderstanding

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The Misunderstanding (French: Le Malentendu), sometimes published as Cross Purpose, is a play written in 1943 in occupied Paris by Albert Camus.

[edit] Plot summary

A man who has been living overseas for many years returns home to find his sister and widowed mother are making a living by taking in lodgers and subsequently murdering them. Since neither his sister nor his mother recognize him, he becomes a lodger himself without revealing his identity. Ultimately, his mother and sister kill him.

[edit] Trivia

The plot of „Le Malentendu“ partially resembles the article of a newspaper, that the protagonist of „The Stranger“ finds and excessively reads in his prison cell: The story of a man, who became rich abroad and comes home to his village, where his sister and mother have a hotel. He doesn't unveil his personality (to be able to surprise them later), and books a room as a guest. Because he is wealthy, his mother and sister murder him while sleeping.

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