The Stranger

In Camus’ novel, The Stranger, the main character Meursault depicts the absurd man and consequently shows the somewhat negative effect that has on a person. Throughout the novel Meursault is apathetic, detached, and a stranger to society. He embodies the meaninglessness of life through his indifference, he shows the atheistic aspect of absurdism, and indirectly lives by a quantity of experience. The beginning of the novel shows this acceptance and embracement of the absurd. The story starts with, “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know. I got a telegram from the home: ‘Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.’ That doesn’t mean a thing” (Camus 1). He is introduced by his absurdist attitude and detached place in society

Moreover, in Camus’ philosophy he believes there is no God and his character Meursault depicts this acceptance in the absurd. He talks to a chaplain while he is in prison, and during this talk the chaplain tries to console Meursault and narrates, “‘Then God can help you,’ he said. … As for me, I didn’t want anybody’s help, and I just didn’t have the time to interest myself in what didn’t interest me” (Camus 116). He sees no value in depending on any external source for meaning. He explains that whatever one does before they die is ultimately irrelevant. Also, throughout the novel his apathy leads to his involvement of a variety of experiences. He agrees to be “pals” with Raymond and even testifies for him when Raymond abuses a woman. He only agrees to these experiences because he cannot see any reason not to. As a result, he eventually finds himself on the beach with a gun. His apathy leads him to unpleasant situations but also allows him to encounter many features of life and live

He focuses on the freedom produced through the acknowledgement that there is no existence of a divine intelligence. Preaching that “existence precedes essence”, one understands that humankind exists prior to a defined nature and one has the choice to determine what humankind ought to be (Sartre 22). Likewise, his commentary also brings to light a more promising tone in Camus’ misanthropic and disheartening novel. He explains the absurd is ultimately an inseparable part of the human condition because of mankind’s being in the world. In the novel, Meursault is confronting the world with his strangeness as a fully conscious being. Also, Sartre helps explain the passion of the absurd. The absurd man wants to live, even though he knows life has no meaning, and asserts his existence by revolting. Sartre clarifies how the absurd man, “stares at death with passionate attention and this fascination liberates him” (Sartre 78). Life is finite and realizing this creates an irresponsibility because God does not exist and humankind is impermanent, therefore everything is permitted. Furthermore, Sartre explains that the absurd man is innocent, he is neither moral nor immoral. Sartre illiterates this innocence by explaining the absurd man is, “Confronted with this ‘quantitative ethic,’ all values collapse…the absurd man, rebellious and irresponsible, has ‘nothing to prove’”