Existentialism In The Stranger

The Strange Character of Meursault In what perhaps is Albert Camus’s most notable work, The Stranger, the main character Meursault can be considered as a vessel for the philosophy of existentialism, an idea prominent in the time period in which the novel was written. Though at first glance Meursault may come off as a simple, uncaring man, as the story progresses, the reader is able to see Meursault as a complex and intriguing person. While in the beginning of the book Meursault is focused only on completing his physical needs, when his ability to fulfill them is taken away from him in prison, he is forced to truly think about his life, becoming fully absurdist in his philosophy. From the very start of the story, the author …show more content…
For example, as his trial progresses, Meursault begins to view it in a paradoxical way. Meursault recalls that “[he] was listening, and [he] could hear that [he] was being judged intelligent. But [he] couldn’t understand how an ordinary man’s good qualities could become crushing accusations against a guilty man” (Camus 100). He recognizes the curiosity of the trial, that the lawyers spend more time on arguing his morality instead of the fact that he had murdered a man. Meursault also finds himself unable to give a proper justification for his actions on that fateful day at the beach, or at least, a justification that society would accept. When asked whether or not he returned to the beach with the clear intention of killing the Arab, he answers: “ ‘No,’ [...] well, then, why was I armed and why did I return to precisely that spot? I said it just happened that way” (Camus 88). Meursault blames his actions on the circumstance, and does not quite accept the responsibility to which he is introduced. By the end, Meursault has fully evolved into an absurdist figure, as seen by his thoughts in the last pages of the book. As he is awaiting his execution, he confesses that in order “for everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate” (Camus 123). This shows the reader that Meursault is finally able to emotionally react to something serious, he wishes to be a part of something as he is dying, thereby creating his own meaning for life, albeit at the last possible