The Stranger

868 Words2 Pages

The Stranger

The Stranger exhibits a society that has confined itself with a

specific set of social standards that dictate the manner in which

people are supposed to act. This ideology determines the level of

morality, and how much emphasis should placed on following this

certain "ethical" structure. Albert Camus's main character, Meursault,

is depicted as a nonconformist that is unwilling to play society's

game. Through Meursault's failure to comply with society's values and

conform to the norm, he is rejected and also condemned to death by

society. He is tried for the crime of murder, but is not judged solely

on his actions during the aforementioned crime. He is judged on his

specific actions that society regards as absurd according to its

social standards. Meursault's different outlook on life differentiates

him from the society around him, and as a result, he is deemed a

threat to society's moral standard. He is unwilling to relinquish his

philosophy and subsequently is convicted due to his inability to

conform as society intends.

"Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know." Meursault's

character is unable to physically express emotion regarding any

situation. Even through the first person narrative that Camus employs,

the reader is unable to get a grasp as to Meursault's personal

feelings regarding certain events in the novel. The event of his

mother's death seems to have no effect on Meursault. He is neither

saddened nor overjoyed by the news of his mother's death. During the

funeral, he is unable to show any emotion, and gives the reader no

insight as to what he is thinking or feeling. The fact that he did not

cry and the fact that he did not pay his respects comes back to haunt

Meurs...

... middle of paper ...

...ble and

unknown.

The Stranger reveals the condemnation of man who was unwilling to

conform to the norm of Algerian society. His unconventional philosophy

concerning life made him an outcast and used as a scapegoat for

society's failure to uphold its own moral standard. It is the fear of

Meursault's ideology that condemns him. It is the fear that his

ideology would affect others from conforming to society's standard

that convicts him and sentences him to death. Society had to eradicate

any threat that might hinder conformity. Meursault refuses to become

another robot of society and adhere to the commonalities that occur in

society. Meursault had to live his life according to his ideology not

that of society. Only by realizing the absurdity of life does

Meursault truly live a fulfilled existence. "I felt that I had been

happy and that I was happy again."

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