Meursault's Nihilism: The Outsiders

500 Words2 Pages
Amidst the 1940’s and 50’s nihilism had grown to become a controversial issue in the regions of Algeria, which was then occupied by the French troops. Nihilism is the rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless. Meursault was an individual who didn’t hold any emotional attachments and was portrayed to be desensitized to everything around him, including human life. In Meursault’s hometown of Algiers he was characterized as the sole nihilist among a society of existentialists. Meursault’s nihilistic stance results in him senselessly murdering the “Arab” causing society to question his unnatural morals, essentially branding him as the “Outsider”. At first glance Meursault seemed as if he was an