Meursault As An Absurd Hero

“You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.” said Albert Camus, philosopher and author of the novel The Stranger. The Stranger follows a French man named Meursault living in Algeria, his surroundings, and the series of events that ultimately leads to Meursault’s murder conviction. The Stranger illustrates a philosophy called absurdism, which refers to the belief that human tendency is to seek meaning and value in one’s life, despite the fact there is no meaning in life. Although The Stranger fixates on Meursault as an absurd hero, it is really Salamano and his relationship with his dog that truly reveals the absurdity of life.

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A quote that shows that Salamano and his dog are equal in mortality is through Camus’s description of Salamano and his dog. Meursault notices that “Perhaps through living in one small room, cooped up with his dog, Salamano has come to resemble it. His towy hair has gone very thin, and he has reddish blotches on his face. And the dog has developed something of its master’s queer hunched-up gait; it always has its muzzle stretched far forward and its nose to the ground” (92). This quote is describing Salamano and his dog as very similar in physical features. By portraying their similar looks when they are both old and approaching death, Camus is emphasizing that all beings are equal in death. Whether one is a human or an abused dog, no matter his or her choices or personality, they will die. As Salamano and his dog are both approaching death, they both look “alike” to emphasize their equal mortality. This reveals the absurdity of life, showing that our life does not matter because we will all die regardless of what we have done or who we are. Another example of absurdity is when Meursault is in prison. After losing his temper with a priest who has come to see him before he dies, Meursault lists several reasons why nothing he does really matters. During this rant, Meursault states “Salamano’s dog was worth just as much as his wife” (121). Meursault is referring to the fact that Salamano’s dog is equal not in terms of treatment, but in mortality. Throughout the story, Salamano talks wistfully about his wife and her death, showing that he does care for her when she is alive. Salamano’s dog, on the other hand, reminds Salamano of his wife’s death and his own upcoming one, and therefore Salamano treats his dog with cruelty. However, despite the differences in their lives, Meursault is emphasizing that they are worth the same, because they both will die,