Different philosophies reveal different perspectives on life. Absurdity is a philosophy that
defines life as unreasonable and lacking of a defined meaning. In contrast, humans have an
innate nature to give meaning to life. Albert Camus reveals his absurd outlook in The Stranger
through Monsieur Meursault’s actions and attitudes. Meursault’s actions and attitudes are
unconventional, and their existence causes numerous difficulties. Meursault, who is an
embodiment of Albert Camus, believes that there is no rational meaning to life, but it does not
matter because everyone has the same fate.
Meursault can live a relatively normal life even though he is an emotionless person.
In the first lines of the novel, Meursault, addressing his mother’s death, says, “That doesn’t mean anything.” His apathy and isolation are also apparent when he talks about the marriage with Marie Cardona. He simply does not care. This can be seen in Meursault with anything emotionally or socially related. Meursault is indifferent and does not show expression in any of such cases because he chooses not to. He even provides terse descriptions of anything emotional or social. On the other hand, Meursault carefully examines physical aspects of life. He goes at a great length to describe nature and settings. For example, after his outing with Marie Cardona, he wakes up and examines the main street in the neighborhood. He describes all the people he sees walking by with great detail. In his description of shooting the Arab, he describes the blinding hot sun and its effects on him adding the small points about the sweat. He is able to continue his life with this unconventional perspective of favoring the physical and practical over the emotional and social. Although society cruelly dismisses such logic, Meursault has the ability to oppose it because he is absurd. Other characters try to give meaning to every event that Meursault partakes. Salamano reasons that Meursault truly loved his mother although he sent her to a nursing home. Ironically, Salamano loved his dog, yet yelled and beat the dog up every day. A hypocritical man assigns meaning to Meursault’s actions, which highlights a key irrationality. It is futile to assign meaning to everything. Camus knows this and accurately describes …show more content…
If a courtroom is meant to decide what is fair, what is Meursault considered since
input is does not follow natural logic and rationale? Irrationality does not have to be rationally
defined, yet the courtroom has to make lies in order to influence or persuade the jury. The courts
can force meaning on meaningless events. The acceptance of irrationality is unfathomable to
many.
Meursault realizes the lack of meaning in life and irrationality of the world. When
Meursault shoots the Arab four times, he implies that his choice does not matter because there is
no difference. If the Arab is shot, he is shot. If not, he is not. In prison, Meursault starts to
develop and understand his own beliefs. He understands that there is no way out of prison, which
symbolizes that there is no way out of life. All humans are doomed. Every human will inevitably
die. It is a definite fact that cannot be changed. Thus, there is no meaning to life if all people die.
The world is irrational. The policeman who saw Raymond decides that it is sufficient to give a
warning to a man who commits a completely immoral act. The news article of the
Czechoslovakian man expands on this ordeal in that an innocent son does not deserve to die.
defines life as unreasonable and lacking of a defined meaning. In contrast, humans have an
innate nature to give meaning to life. Albert Camus reveals his absurd outlook in The Stranger
through Monsieur Meursault’s actions and attitudes. Meursault’s actions and attitudes are
unconventional, and their existence causes numerous difficulties. Meursault, who is an
embodiment of Albert Camus, believes that there is no rational meaning to life, but it does not
matter because everyone has the same fate.
Meursault can live a relatively normal life even though he is an emotionless person.
In the first lines of the novel, Meursault, addressing his mother’s death, says, “That doesn’t mean anything.” His apathy and isolation are also apparent when he talks about the marriage with Marie Cardona. He simply does not care. This can be seen in Meursault with anything emotionally or socially related. Meursault is indifferent and does not show expression in any of such cases because he chooses not to. He even provides terse descriptions of anything emotional or social. On the other hand, Meursault carefully examines physical aspects of life. He goes at a great length to describe nature and settings. For example, after his outing with Marie Cardona, he wakes up and examines the main street in the neighborhood. He describes all the people he sees walking by with great detail. In his description of shooting the Arab, he describes the blinding hot sun and its effects on him adding the small points about the sweat. He is able to continue his life with this unconventional perspective of favoring the physical and practical over the emotional and social. Although society cruelly dismisses such logic, Meursault has the ability to oppose it because he is absurd. Other characters try to give meaning to every event that Meursault partakes. Salamano reasons that Meursault truly loved his mother although he sent her to a nursing home. Ironically, Salamano loved his dog, yet yelled and beat the dog up every day. A hypocritical man assigns meaning to Meursault’s actions, which highlights a key irrationality. It is futile to assign meaning to everything. Camus knows this and accurately describes …show more content…
If a courtroom is meant to decide what is fair, what is Meursault considered since
input is does not follow natural logic and rationale? Irrationality does not have to be rationally
defined, yet the courtroom has to make lies in order to influence or persuade the jury. The courts
can force meaning on meaningless events. The acceptance of irrationality is unfathomable to
many.
Meursault realizes the lack of meaning in life and irrationality of the world. When
Meursault shoots the Arab four times, he implies that his choice does not matter because there is
no difference. If the Arab is shot, he is shot. If not, he is not. In prison, Meursault starts to
develop and understand his own beliefs. He understands that there is no way out of prison, which
symbolizes that there is no way out of life. All humans are doomed. Every human will inevitably
die. It is a definite fact that cannot be changed. Thus, there is no meaning to life if all people die.
The world is irrational. The policeman who saw Raymond decides that it is sufficient to give a
warning to a man who commits a completely immoral act. The news article of the
Czechoslovakian man expands on this ordeal in that an innocent son does not deserve to die.