Meursault: Tragic Hero

All mankind must live free and happy realizing that all must die. In Albert Camus’ novel The Outsider, Meursault is portrayed as a man with tragic hero qualities and heartlessness because he has no emotions to show the world which will cost him his life. Meursault is a detached and deathly honest guy who refuses to lie about himself to save his life. Meursault is interested far more in the physical aspects of the world around him than in its social or emotional aspects. Meursault implies that there is no higher meaning or order to human life. Some believe that we were put on this earth for a reason, to make a difference. Meursaults mentality is that there is no meaning to human life, we were not meant for anything greater than what we are.

This is not the case, we are let down because we expected Meursault to act/be a certain way. We expected something, Meursault has not expected anything out of his life. Therefore, he has never been disappointed. Meursault has a meeting with the chaplin, who insists that Meursault asks God forgiveness. This causes Meursault to get frustrated because he did not believe in God and did not want to be pushed to believe something he doesn’t. Also, Meursault doesn’t lie because he doesn't feel the need to, so he is digging his hole deeper and deeper instead of helping himself. He believes that whatever happens is suppose to happen and he can’t change or control his life. Meursault fully accepts the absurdist idea that the universe is indifferent. This is a way that Meursault is compared to the universe, they are both indifferent. Meursault realizes that nothing he does will effect the universe, nothing will change when he dies. At the end of the novel, Meursault reaches an emotional realization which comforts him while he's on death row. He realizes that although he is about to be executed, it didn’t

In the end of the film we see Andrew sitting on the plane, watching people, thinking about his time in New Jersey and everything in his life. We see Sam crying in a phone booth in the airport, when the door opens, and she asks "What are you doing here?". Andrew says he gets it now, that the whole ellipsis thing was stupid. Andrew was never aware of his feelings for Sam until he was going to lose her. He finally realized his love for Sam, he realizes that she is the one whom he has loved all along just never been able to see it, his romantic instincts have been on hold for so long. Not unlike Meursault, who doesn’t acknowledge his feelings towards Marie because he simply doesn't care. Andrew has finally came in touch with his emotions and the way he feels. ”Garden State" is a movie that in a way, makes Meursault come to life in Andrew. Although, these are different stories, the main characters relate with the way they think. Their mentalities are very similar. All of the people they encounter are trying to make them feel