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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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No Summit Out of Sight is an amazing true story about an avid mountain climber who at a young age sets his sights on climbing all of the tallest mountains in the world. In the novel Jordan Romero tells his story, he takes us through what inspired him to take on such an incredible feat and eventually goes on to describe each climb. Before the age of fifteen he had climbed Kilimanjaro, Kosciuszko, Elbrus, Aconcagua, Denali, Carstensz Pyramid, Everest, and Vinson. Throughout the book there are specific themes, scenes, and characters that are important to note. The theme of determination; the character Jordan, and the scene when Jordan reaches the top of Mount Everest is are all crucial parts of the book.

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Meursault attempted to alleviate his loneliness in prison by saying, "I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated and for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there would be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they would greet me with cries of hate." Meursault showcases one of his interesting ways of thinking about a situation in this scenario. Rather than fearing the execution, he thinks that the day it happens, he will feel less alone due to being surrounded by people. This shows how he cannot feel lonely in situations where almost anyone would.

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This simple fact keeps him so alienated from the rest of the characters in the book. To go in deeper with Meursault’s isolation, most of his attention was self created. Others, such as his “fiancee” Marie and neighbor Raymond, wish to associate with him, however, he lacks the fundamental skills required to maintain healthy relationships. His alienation becomes especially noticeable thought his time in prison. At one point, he addresses his views on the world after having killed a man on the beach.

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Through the use of diction and symbolism; Camus reveals Meursault’s is apathetic towards his bonding with others and unable

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Meursault is not like many people in Albert Camus’ “The Stranger”. He in fact is very unlike many people in the world. He goes about his life with little to no care about the happenings of others. He almost completely emotionless, as can be seen when he felt nothing upon the death of his mother. He is unafraid to hurt other’s feelings because he does not himself understand what feeling is.

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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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Meursault begins to take in everything that has been going on throughout his life and has realized the situations that lead his death sentence. After Meursault's trail, he only cared about escaping the machinery of justice, hoping there is a way to avoid this problem. He blames himself every time for not paying attention or being aware to accounts of executions. Mesursault believes he could of found a way to prevent himself from dying if he was more curious about it. Times at the cell he remembers a story Maman used to tell Meursault about his father how he watched a murder get executed.

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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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For instance, the first line of the book states that “Maman died today” (3). Camus delineates that Meursault lives unattached to his mother, and his indifferent attitude toward his mother’s death portrays his thought based on one of Camus’s absurdist ideas of meaningless of human life; Meursault encounters an issue with moral apathy, highlighting his opposition to the will of the majority by isolating himself from society. Even when he visits his mom’s funeral, he denies seeing her body, though he finds it interesting to ponder upon “the effects of heat and humidity on the rate of body decay” (6). This nihilistic attitude toward his society later brings in a conflict. “Do you want my life to be meaningless?”

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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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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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At this point in the novel, being locked up in a cell has allowed Meursault to reflect on life and contemplate, which leads to him finally accepting rejection and personal

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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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