The illusion of Happiness in Camus' The Stranger

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Recommended: Sociology analysis of the pursuit of happiness

Happiness is a feeling that cannot be given a true definition, as it can be interpreted in many different ways. The character Meursault in Camus’s The Stranger, has his own view on happiness that is very different from how society views happiness and the idea is supported throughout Camus’s novel. Most of society views happiness as a form of pleasure, companionship, and relaxation, but that is not how everybody sees it. When someone else expresses a different form of happiness that is not normal in society they are often punished or seen as outcasts in society. Meursault’s character can be viewed as strange, emotionless, or confused throughout the story since he is rarely seen showing any emotion, including happiness, which is very odd to many characters. Ironically enough, Meursault does not notice his own behavior and he is detached emotionally not only from the outside world, but himself. It takes Meursault a long time before he finally discovers himself and finds out the true meaning of happiness. Camus shows true happiness by using Meursault and shows how society’s view on happiness is simply an illusion. Society creates things like relationships, paradise, and habits to keep their false happiness alive. Camus also uses many different types of devices to explain that happiness is an illusion by using symbols, setting, and character.
First of all, relationships are often created to feel the emotional and physical contact of a loved one which creates happiness in the process. In the story, Meursault is in a relationship with a young woman named Marie and their relationship is abnormal as it does not give Meursault the happiness he should be feeling. Marie questions whether Meursault truly loves her during the story and Meur...

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...rtain everyday things like relationships, places to relax, and habits. Meursault is the one to break through this illusion and see what happiness truly is. The reason being is that Meursault acted like an outcast to himself and the outside world which in turn helps him discover the true meaning of happiness. Society views death as a bad thing that they always fear and try to prolong the inevitability of how life normally works. Everything that is given life suffers the fate of an inevitable death and as they try to live they fill it with a lot of things to give themselves the false sense of happiness to ignore the fear of death. Meursault discovers that people should not be afraid of death, but that one should embrace it and look at it as a wonderful opportunity of true freedom and happiness. Death is not the end of a happy life, but the start of a new and true life.

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