Albert Camus the Stranger
Albert Camus the Stranger
In Albert Camus novel, The Stranger, Meursault represents an existentialist character. Most may believe him to be immoral, and in some cases they are almost correct. Contrary to that belief, just because Meursault is an emotionless silhouette of a man doesnt mean he is immoral or evil. One cannot condemn him for being this way because he is simply misunderstood. Meursault does not make moral or immoral decisions, he is just completely indifferent to the matter. Readers are able to sympathize with this character because society condemns him and he is thought of as an evil person due to his lack of emotion. He was unable to experience love and he missed out on some of the finer feelings in life
Camus shows Meursault as a person that does not show any signs of faith, love, life or emotion. Camus shows us that Meusault doesnt really believe in love. He is completely numb to the feeling. Albert clearly portrays this in Meursaults relationship with Marie. Marie asked Meursault if he loved her and he replied that love didnt mean anything and he probably didnt either. It is evident that when it comes to love, Meursault believes its a complete waste of time. His only sort of physical interaction consists of lust and has no passion for anything or any one. He tells Marie that “devotion is nothing more than self-delusion.” Even though he describes his rendez-vous with her with words such as “glistening” and “warm”,when he describes his interaction with her, he only describes his physical feeling. Meursault never expresses once how he feels mentally.
Toward the end of the novel at Meursaults trial he demonstrates that he has very little will to live. It seems as if he could honestly care less. During the trial he could have told the jury and the judge that he regretted what he had done but nothing came from his mouth. His thoughts alone could have saved him from