Existentialism In The Stranger

1096 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The effect of existentialism

The Connection between Existentialism and Meursault
An existentialist represents their choices throughs their actions, opposed to with their words (Corbett). Therefore, someone who expresses the ideals of existentialism may be a threat to society because of their differences in morality compared to others. In The Stranger, by Albert Camus, Meursault was always looking to find meaning in his life because of everything that was happening to him at the time; and that is a key characteristic of someone embracing the ideals of existentialism. Sadly, through Meursault’s search for his inner meaning, he ended up taking the life of another man with very little realization of what he had done. Throughout The Stranger, by Albert Camus, Camus portrays …show more content…

The moment Meursault found out, he said, “Mother died today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I can’t be sure. The telegram from the home says: Your mother passed away. Funeral tomorrow. Deep sympathy. Which leaves matter doubtful, it could have been yesterday” (Camus 1). A reaction like this is unlikely to occur in anybody that is put in this situation. Existentialists immediately start to analyze existence instead of embracing it. Another quote is, “What unites the existentialists, besides the problems of meaning and existence with which they all wrestled, is a series of themes and concerns that informed their discussion of these issues” (Panza & Gale 28). By describing the mind of an existentialist, it supports the argument that Meursault portrayed the characteristics of an existentialist because that is how he would think about life as a whole. Also, while Meursault was talking with the chaplain, he said in reply to the chaplain, “I however didn’t want to be helped, and I hadn’t had time to work up interest for something that didn’t interest me” (Camus 72). That is a very weird response to have after you are informed about the wonders of God; but that is how Meursault did due to his existentialism like thoughts. Throughout The Stranger Meursault lost his own meaning in life while trying to examine every little aspect of it. Characteristics like that are often associated with those of an

Show More
Related

  • Maman’s Funeral Characterises Meursault And the World of The Stranger

    1659 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the experimental novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, he explores the concept of existentialism and the idea that humans are born into nothing and descend into nothingness after death. The novel takes place in the French colony of Algiers where the French-Algerians working-class colonists live in an urban setting where simple life pleasures are of the upmost importance in the lives of working class people like the protagonist of the novel Meursault. What is fascinating about this novel is that it opens up with a scene of perpetual misfortune for him through the death of his mother although he seems to express otherwise. The reader perceives this nonchalance as a lack of care. Maman’s death and its impact on Meursault appear in both the very beginning and very end of the two-part novel, suggesting a cyclical pattern in the structure. This cyclical pattern suggests not a change in the moral beliefs of Meursault but rather his registering society’s systems and beliefs and craft meaning in his own life despite the fact that he meets his demise in the end. Camus uses Maman’s funeral to characterise both Meursault and the society and customs created by the society Meursault lives in in order to contrast the two while at the same time reveal how while society changes, Meursault does not. Rather, Maman’s funeral becomes of unprecedented importance in Meursault’s life and allows him to find that nothing means anything in his meaningless world at the time of his death. He finds peace in that.

    Read More

  • The Stranger Injustice Analysis

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    Albert Camus’ The Stranger offers one man’s incite into the justice of society. Monsieur Meursault, the main protagonist in the novel, believes that morals and the concept of right and wrong possess no importance. This idea influences him to act distinctively in situations that require emotion and just decision, including feeling sadness over his mother’s death, the abuse of a woman, and his killing of an innocent man. In these situations Meursault apathetically devoids himself of all emotion and abstains from dealing with the reality in front of him. When confronted by the court over his murder, he reiterates his habitual motto on life that nothing matters anyways, so why care? His uncaring response inflames the people working within the

    Read More

  • Examples Of Existentialism In Stranger Things

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    Stranger Things is an eight-episode masterwork of television available only on Netflix. For its pleasures, in large part from the trait of disbelief. The plot revolves around a small group of children set in the 1980s trying to save a friend who may or may not have fallen into a terrifying and monstrous alternate dimension. Stranger Thing offers something more profound, and more profound, and more profoundly essential- a real meditation on faith and its meaning in modern, skeptical times.

    Read More

  • Existentialism And Symbolism In The Stranger By Albert Camus

    1438 Words  | 3 Pages

    Albert Camus is a skillful writer noted for showing aspects of culture and society through the depiction of his characters. In The Stranger, Camus illustrates the existentialism culture and how that comes into play in the life of the protagonist Meursault. The Stranger, as suggested by the title, is a novel revolving around the protagonist, Meursault, who is a stranger to the French-Algerian society as he challenges its values. Camus vividly portrays Meursault’s journey through the use of imagery, irony, and symbolism. In The Stranger, Albert Camus uses the minor character, Raymond Sintes, to illustrate the contrasting nature of Meursault and how his friendship with Raymond leads to his downfall.

    Read More

  • Existentialism In 'The Stranger By Albert Camus And The Tunnel'

    1578 Words  | 4 Pages

    Existentialism is a philosophical school of thought which contemplates the issues of meaning, life itself, the search for purpose, and how it applies to the humanity. Introduced by Søren Kierkegaard, the father of Existentialism, and coined by Gabriel Marcel in the 40’s, there has since been many philosophers, authors, works, plays, and debates over these principals. Two of the most renowned pieces of existentialist literature are The Stranger by Albert Camus, and The Tunnel by Ernesto Sábato. Both novels deal with two opposite men struggling to find meaning and a place in the world itself, and are widely considered prime examples of an existential hero. But what is an existential hero? How would one describe and determine

    Read More

  • The Importance of Religion in The Stranger by Albert Camus

    669 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...everyone is surrounded by death. Camus explains that life isn’t about what is not envisioned, but it’s about what is evident. Meursault’s feeling of apathy is directly related to his conviction that life lacks necessary order and meaning, “As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope…I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world,” as he awaits his impending death, he finally recognizes that life is the most complex entity in the universe and one only has one life to live, so live it wisely (122). In the end, Meursault changed spiritually because he didn’t concentrate as much on the physical world because while he was in prison, he thought about life’s gifts and (although still atheist) realizes that faith in yourself and life is very important. There is also some irony here; he finally realizes the meaning of live just as he awaits his death.

    Read More

  • Existentialism In Albert Camus's The Stranger

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    I, Albert Camus, am a famous French author who had written The Stranger in 1942. I was born in Algeria, and my experiences there had deeply influenced my thoughts, my work, and my philosophies. The Stranger strongly represents my philosophy involving the absurd and existentialism. When I was twenty-five, I moved to France and joined the resistance movement during World War II. After the liberation from Nazi Germany, I became a political journalist and a columnist for Combat, a French newspaper. In 1947, I retired from my journalist career and continued to write fiction and playwrights for the theatre (Simpson). Although I primarily consider myself a writer instead of a philosopher and I deny being an existentialist, the philosophy I most agree with is indeed existentialism. As one will find in my novel, The Stranger, the main character Meursault views the world and situations through an outside perspective, extreme detachment, and a lack of empathy. His characters tend to view the world as an outsider because I personally grew up in many groups

    Read More

  • Comparing Kafka's Metamorphosis and The Stranger (The Outsider)

    481 Words  | 1 Pages

    Existentialism is defined as a philosophical movement that human beings are completely free and responsible for their own actions.  Existentialists will try not to cause waves and remain completely uninvolved with anyone because they do not want to hurt anybody.   There is absolutely no such thing as an existentialist because he would have to be so uninvolved to the point where he would not be able to live at all.  Although the two stories: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and The Stranger by Albert Camus are very different in approach, their endings are similar in that they both support the basics of existentialism.

    Read More

  • The Unemotional Meursault in The Stranger by Albert Camus

    682 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Albert Camus’ novel, The Stranger, the protagonist Meursault is a character who has definite values and opinions concerning the society in which he lives.  His self-inflicted alienation from society and all its habits and customs is clear throughout the book.  The novel itself is an exercise in absurdity that challenges the reader to face the nagging questions concerning the meaning of human existence. Meursault is an existentialist character who views his life in an unemotional and noncommittal manner, which enhances his obvious opinion that in the end life is utterly meaningless.

    Read More

  • Existentialism in Unknown Places

    1404 Words  | 3 Pages

    Existentialism is the epitome of the unknown. There is no straightforward explanation of what exactly it is, there is only certain characteristics and behaviors that describe existentialist views. Throughout today’s world, there are examples of it everywhere, it’s found in movies, books, songs, and just people in general. Existentialists are known to think and do for themselves only. They believe that to understand what it means to be human requires understanding of themselves first. Some very well known pieces of entertainment existentialism is found in are: Hamlet by William Shakespeare, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Stranger by Albert Camus, and The Breakfast Club by John Hughes. The Stranger is a book written about a young man whose mother dies, which soon leads him to becoming acquainted with the feeling of not caring about what his actions do to others or himself. The main character Meursault starts helping his friend Raymond, carry out ways to torment his mistress. Out of nowhere while at the beach, Meursault shoots Raymond’s mistress’s brother. He is thrown into jail and tried, but he seems to not be affected as much as he should about his actions. He first finds it hard to live without cigarettes, women, and nature, but he soon finds out he doesn’t need any of those. After being sentenced to death, he is suggested to turn away from his atheism but later realizes that human existence has no greater meaning. This realization and acceptance is what truly makes him happy (Camus). Next, The Breakfast Club is a very relatable movie about high school students suffering the consequences of their actions in detention. The kids are all of ...

    Read More

  • Kierkegaard And Camus View Of Existentialism

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    The founders of existentialism such as Sartre, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard and Camus exemplify the philosophy of existentialism in their writings because they focus on absurdity in life and lack of definite meaning. Throughout history some people see themselves as just someone who is put on Earth just for “no reason” these people believe that there is no meaning to them. What is right could mean that it is wrong in society. What they might think is wrong might mean it is right in society. There is no meaning to Existentialism other than that those people do what they want whenever they want. This doesn’t mean that they are bad people; they just see life on a different perspective in which they don’t really know why they are put on Earth. Existential philosophers have been studying why they think this way, feel this way, and even act the way they. Some philosophers might have even written a book about the foundations of existentialism and how it all came about.

    Read More

  • Absurdity: An Essay On The Stranger

    663 Words  | 2 Pages

    An Essay on. The Stranger; The Absurd One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all.

    Read More

  • The Idea of Existentialism in The Stranger

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    Existentialism is defined as "a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining his or her own development through acts of the will”. In other words, existentialism emphasizes individual freedom. Throughout The Stranger, the amount of existentialism is abundant. The use of Mersault’s experiences coveys the idea that human life has no meaning except for simple existence. The idea of existentialism in Albert Camus' The Stranger reflects through Mersault's life experiences with his relationship with Marie, the death of his mother Maman, the murdering of the Arab, and Mersault's trial and execution, all these events show that Mersault’s life of no meaning.

    Read More

  • Absurdism, The Stranger, and Life

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    Absurdism, The Stranger, and life “Absurdism” (coined by Albert Camus) is a philosophy based upon the concept that the life and the world are meaningless, irrational, without sense or reason. And any effort we make to try to find meaning in them will ultimately fail. Albert Camus considers absurdity to be a fight, a force pushing between our mind’s desire to have meaning and understanding and the blank, empty world beyond. In an argument with Nagel, Camus stated “I said that the world is absurd, but I was too hasty. This world in itself is not reasonable, that is all that can be said.

    Read More

  • The Character of Meursault in The Stranger (The Outsider)

    1236 Words  | 3 Pages

    Albert Camus wrote The Stranger during the Existentialist movement, which explains why the main character in the novel, Meursault, is characterized as detached and emotionless, two of the aspects of existentialism. In Meursault, Camus creates a character he intends his readers to relate to, because he creates characters placed in realistic situations. He wants the reader to form a changing, ambiguous opinion of Meursault. From what Meursault narrates to the reader in the novel, the reader can understand why he attempts to find order and understanding in a confused and mystifying world.

    Read More

More about Existentialism In The Stranger

Open Document