Taylor Smith Mrs. Fowler IB Language Arts 17 May, 2016 The Stranger: The Epiphany The Stranger is a novel written by Albert Camus and was published in 1942. It follows the story of Meursault, an indifferent French Algerian, and his actions leading to his eventual death. Camus, a French philosopher, author, and journalist most notably renowned for his philosophy of absurdism, distributes a recurring theme of existentialism and absurdism throughout the novel, and heavily does so in passages that serve the most significance to the story. One of the most important passages within the novel is when Meursault repeatedly defies the chaplain in the cell. It serves as a pinnacle for the entire story, and grants readers a look into the main characters state of mind. In this passage, Meursault comes to a dramatic realization of who he is through an existential epiphany, and with thorough analysis the overall significance of the passage to the story is revealed. In the passage the chaplain visits Meursault much to Meursault’s displeasure. He asks Meursault why he did not want to see him, and Meursault then solidifies his denial of the existence of God. This doesn’t deter the chaplain …show more content…
Even though Meursault makes it perfectly clear that he does not believe in God, does not need help, and does have time to waste on him the chaplain still engages with him. He insists on Meursault giving some faith and repenting his sins, but Meursault’s defiance remains solid. He even calls the chaplain “monsieur”, explaining that he is not and never will be his father. Meursault’s resistance and refusal are almost a sort of ‘opposite reflection’ to the chaplain’s notions. Every time he proposes a religious idea, Meursault is quick to retort with a worldly alternative. It’s almost as if he’s replacing the chaplain faith just like he replaced his title of “father” with