Analysis Of Camus's Context In The Stranger

Response to the discussion of Camus’s context (The Stranger) During the interactive oral, the class explored the elements portrayed by Camus, which opened my eyes to the reliability of the author and the importance of static characters, that must be understood in order to understand the themes of the novel. The reliability of the author, Meursault, was debated according to what the person felt affected the author’s reliability. Though I understand the concept of the ethnic divide between the French people and the Arabs, that this created separation into social class, it came to my interest that this concept could affect the author 's reliability. Due to the social divide of the cultures, Meursault may be biased, in a superiority sense,

Without one of these values firmly present, and individual might find himself or herself drifting away from the fundamental purpose of life established by society. Consequently, when an individual is not able to find his or her purpose to life, he or she may develop issues with discovering his or her identity and morals. Often times society develops morals that may be contrary to an individual’s own belief. Camus embodies the role of guidance into the side characters, Maman, the magistrate, and Raymond in the novel The Stranger to show how having a strong background will keep and individual in the right path and conforming to the norm in place. Albert Camus utilizes the side characters to represent the concept that religion, love, and rituals are constructs of society that inhibit man’s ability to find meaning and enforce conformity to rigid social structure. These characters may seem insignificant to those who fail to notice their purpose, but characters such as Maman, the magistrate, and Raymond, make an appearance in the novel to display different societal norms that the main character, Meursault, may have been drifting away

The magistrate questions Meursault at the time of his prosecution. In the scene the reader is introduced to this character, he is supposed to be getting information about the crime that Meursault has committed. Topics quickly stray and the magistrate begins to reproach Meursault about his lack of religion and moral values in his life. The magistrate asked Meursault his views on religion and he says, “…drawing himself up to his full height and asked if I believe in god. I said ‘No.’ He sat down indignantly. He said it was impossible… and if he ever were to doubt it, his life would become meaningless.” (Camus 120) This is shows the absolute lack of sympathy the magistrate must feels toward Meursault which symbolizes the way that his peers or any individual in society view his viewpoints on life. The magistrate ultimately represents the way society feels threatened by an individual with immoral beliefs, or even by an individual who possesses beliefs different from their own. This scene also provides a foil of the magistrate and Meursault. They have two very different standpoints on religion. The magistrate believes that the reason for his existence is to serve his higher being through worship, but Meursault feels as if there is no real reason to life other than