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The Stranger, By Albert Camus

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The Stranger by Albert Camus analyzes many concepts but specifically focuses on existentialism. According to the Basics of Philosophy, existentialism is the “philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe”. Freedom and choice are rights that Meursault would be deprived of. He is currently placed in prison, his new "home" due to the events that occurred. However, Meursault would later realize that “home” is not like his daily routine that consists of smoking cigarettes in his studio apartment while spending time with his girlfriend Marie. The concept of “Home” for Meursault would be …show more content…

While Meursault was having a conversation with his superior, Meursault said, “He then asked if a ‘change of life’ … one life was good as another, and my present one suited me quite well” (Camus 28). With this conversation, one can infer that Meursault doesn’t have any problems when it comes to adapting to an unfamiliar environment. With this, one can conclude that prison would just be the new environment that he can easily adapt to. With this, Camus is illustrating the normality and experiences of our lives, how people flourish on routines and have expectations; keep in mind that Meursault does not have a sense of responsibility in any way, he does not follow the societal norms and expectations nor the society follows Meursault. Meursault’s everyday prison routine became steady and settled, it didn’t decrease or worsen his reality; one can even say that his time spent in prison was beneficial to his well-being due to things he was able to realize. Beneficial in the sense that Meursault strengthened his memory by remembering the placements and positions of various objects and furniture in his bedroom. “Sometimes I would exercise my memory on my bedroom… forced myself to keep my inventory in mind from start to finish…” (Camus 49-50). In addition to his brain exercises, the crime he committed could be beneficial. With Meursault’s realization that his committed crimes and intolerable behavior were not acceptable in the societies perspective; This realization would make him understand that his perspective of the world compared to the society’s perspective has quite a drastic difference. Camus’ purpose for this novel was not just to entertain but to also enlighten the audience on how purposelessness of life and how society cruelly judges a member of the society due to dissimilar behaviors like Meursault and his moral isolation

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In part two of Albert Camus “The Stranger,” the main character is met with the reality of the judicial system and the reality that Meursault has strayed away from. In this position, Meursault is able to see the morality that exist within God’s fate. Being an atheist becomes a setback for Meursault when he realizes the reality that God is a part of the morality that Meursault believes everyone is destined too. Unlike other times, Meursault is faced with this absurd reality he has gotten himself into and can not control his fate due to the judges social constructs and god’s law which now hold superior power than him. Meursault is awakened in this hour of consciousness, revealing the newfangledness of life and what is accepted as God’s moral sense and sees things in a perspective he has never experienced before.

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In The Stranger, Albert Camus uses heat to characterize Meursault and novel progression to present the principles of existentialism such as absurdism and choices and commitment. Absurdism refers to the belief that human beings exist in a purposeless, chaotic universe and nothing can explain or rationalize human existence. Camus constantly has Meursault describe the Algerian environment to emphasize the absurdity of the universe. Meursault acts very strangely at his mother’s funeral by not mourning and not giving a closure to their relationship despite after several chances. He lists, “the sun, the smell of leather and horse dung from the hearse, the smell of varnish and incense…I could feel the blood pounding in my temples” (Source A).

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And finally the idea of the crowd at the end when he was about to be executed, representing the eyes of society who are there to end him as they found no explanations to his character. As stated previously Camus created Meursault on the basis of his belief in the theory of existentialism. The idea of said theory is used throughout the novel and opens eyes to the true nature of human

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The Stranger Symbolism

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Albert Camus writes in his book The Stranger which gives readers a glimpse of the inside world of Meursault and his life and culture has shaped him into this mysterious man that no can relate too. Behind the main character, Meursault, there is a man that lives a very abandoned life that feels like he does not belong and cannot find meaning no matter where he searches for it. Throughout the whole book readers do not see any emotion or feeling expressing about nothing in his life as he is just another part of this world and that what he thinks or feels just doesn't matter to anyone. Camus illustrates Meursault character by using symbolism and connection between the title and character in which helps the readers better understand the character

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Their inability to connect with him stems from Meursault 's distinctive behaviour that is not influenced by society. This individualism instils dread in the jury. According to society, an individual such as Meursault, who is authentic and not shaped by society, has no place on Earth. And so, because it is a jury, filled with biased humans, that convicts the defendant, there is injustice in the justice system. As a result of the fallibility of the court of law,

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As the French, absurdist philosopher Albert Camus once said, “Being different is not a bad thing. It means you are brave enough to be yourself.” That summed up with our topic, which is absurdity through human existence, a human being should tolerate the absurd condition of human existence. Albert Camus introduces Meursault the protagonist and narrator of the book The Stranger, who is a stranger through society eyes and the title point out his personality in the world of absurdity. Meursault is indifferent and alienates young man to others.

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The prosecutor, the examining magistrate, and Meursault’s own lawyer were curious and confused, for they did not know Meursault’s motives or his justification for his actions. The magistrate, with a puzzled expression on his face, asked Meursault, “‘But why, why did you go on firing at a prostrate man?’ Again I found nothing to reply” (Camus 42). In order to solve the case and fairly sentence Meursault to the punishment he deserves, the authorities were eager to discover why Meursault has done such an unscrupulous thing. Camus’ use of repetition within the magistrate’s question emphasizes the yearn for a reasonable explanation for Meursault’s actions.

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