ipl-logo

The Stranger Symbolism

1273 Words6 Pages

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 …show more content…

As readers many notice how Meursault and other characters within the book never actually have a relationship with Meursault because he ultimately acts like a stranger to everyone that he meets. Not one person relates to him in any given way within the book and never fully grasp what goes on during his thought process, but as readers the author meant for us to understand him more. From the viewpoint of Meursault readers get his complex life that has no meaning, no relationship, and no values or goals that he wants for his life. From start to finish one gets the overview of his life but through the main characters lense one gets to see that he accepts who he is and prefers it this way. During the story Meursault says “I looked at myself in my tin plate. My reflection seemed to remain serious even though I was trying to smile at it, and for the first time in months, I distinctly heard the sound of my own voice”(81). Through his words the author makes him feel as which he feels a sense of stuck in his own world and wants to find peace but the destination is just too far away. Meursault is born into this state of mind that he has no conception of what life is, what he wants out of life, no real longing for relationship, or just life in general. This aspect of his personality is what makes him the stranger that people don’t understand and have no ways to understand the idea behind the ways at which his mind

Open Document