Rashid 1

Imran Rashid

Mrs. Boggio

AP Literature

17 April 2017

Character Analysis: Meursault

Existentialism essentially explains extreme emptiness and emotionless entities.

Beyond this, existentialist beliefs hold that individuals are responsible and accountable

for their choices and that we decide the meaning of our life as we live. Existentialism

gave rise to absurdity, the search for meaning in a meaningless world. Albert Camus, in

his novel The Stranger, explores this idea through the protagonist, Meursault. This

protagonist drives the plot through his inability to empathize with others and his motives

being rooted in psychological id (Burt). The id describes an individuals basic needs and

desires, and does not take into consideration moral or societal values. Meursault, the

existential protagonist in Camus novel, follows his natural desires without remorse as

though he is incapable of anything else. He displays his isolation and inability to socially

connect or understand others through his actions, thoughts, and dialogue.

The main conflict is simply just one of Meursaults careless and ill-motivated

actions. The fashion in which Meursault behaves shows that he is motivated by selfish

and instinctive desires. He does not act with others reaction or expectations in

consideration. This behavior led to him committing homicide, and eventually face

execution as a legal result. His actions are juxtaposed greatly by the many foils Camus

uses to accent Meursaults lack of emotion (Irfan). Marie, for instance, is greatly

impacted by those around her and by Meursaults fate. His sentence for execution is not
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well received by Marie and blatantly affects her emotional state as she sobs and

desperately tries to save Meursault despite his stolid nature (Camus 94). This reaction

is contrasted by the relatively unaffected Meursault as he deals with the death of his

mother. In fact, it is this unresponsive demeanor that he displays towards his late

mother that ultimately causes his death sentence. However, even though Meursault

does not act like those around him, his actions are a result of his inner thought just like

the rest of us.

The novel is written in first person, through Meursaults view. This style of writing

allows the reader to truly comprehend the mindset and line of thinking behind

Meursaults actions. The book opens in iconic fashion, with Meursault explaining he is

not sure when his mother actually died. Although this isnt his fault, this is the deepest

thought Meursault can conjure about his mothers death. Even after her funeral,

Meursault explicitly recalls burying his mother beneath soil and red geraniums and in

that moment he remembers his joy that he was going to go to bed and sleep for twelve

hours (18). He thinks in the present, his mind never delves beneath the surface.

Meursault even admits that, ... my nature was such that my physical needs often got in

the way of my feelings (70).

The communication of Meursaults thoughts fail to provide others what they need.

Meursault can not say what he does not think, and as he is completely indifferent and

careless towards those who care for him. His mothers death, his potential marriage, his

promotion at work, and even his own execution do not deserve any acknowledgement

greater than a rudimentary variation of him saying he doesnt really even care.

Meursault explains to Marie that love does not mean anything to him and he doesnt
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think he loves her (Camus 35). Even when Marie visits him in prison and attempts to

talk with him he responds with the same carelessness mainly just to say something

(75).

Existentialism can be seen as a dark set of beliefs. It does not quite exude

positivity, and describes searching for meaning in a meaningless world as absurd.

Meursault, the stranger in Camus novel is ironically, by this definition, the only

character who is not absurd. He may be isolated socially, he may be unfit for society, but

from an existential standpoint it is his indifference and surface level emotion that makes

him normal. In Albert Camus novel, The Stranger, Meursault shows himself to be void

of emotion and sympathy through his behavior, beliefs, and words.

Works Cited
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Burt, Daniel S. "The Stranger." The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Novels

of All Time, Revised Edition. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010.Bloom's

Literature, Facts On File, Inc.

Camus, Albert. The Stranger. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1988. Print.

Irfan, Syed. "The Stranger - Symbolism and Imagery by Albert Camus." Academia.edu.

N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017. <http://www.academia.edu/5465385/The_stranger-

symbolism_and_imagery_by_albert_camus>