He is considered the personification of existentialism, the existential hero if you will. This is perfectly shown in both The Guest and The Stranger. The word existentialism means that there is no “higher” meaning to the universe or even man’s own existence (Howard). The character of Meursault exhibits a bold existentialist attitude throughout the story that, on several occasions, explodes forth in a sharp contrast to his normal submissive personality; a most noticeable occasion being his outburst during his episode with the chaplain when he snapped after having an epiphany. “Camus tells the story of a man who, without any heroic pretensions, agrees to die for the truth” (Lazere, 68). Existentialism, what it represents, the results of its embodiment in a person, and the validity of the doctrine altogether are all important aspects explored in The Stranger by Albert Campus. He derives a certain level of pleasure from eating and drinking, smoking cigarettes, sitting on his balcony. Meursault leads a pre-reflective life. Human lives are not invested with purpose. What is visual communication and why it matters; Nov. 20, 2020 Existentialism In The Stranger. A majority of the book made me feel like the rest of society, which was not accepting Meursault’s behavior. Existentialism In The Stranger Existentialism is a focus on the individual, a focus on their existence, free will, and death. The use of existentialism within his work assists in the development of his characters; it determines how they will act and respond to their surroundings. Mersault shoots the Arab because of his physical discomfort with his surroundings, but in any case he consciously makes the decision to shoot the Arab. These themes are existence which is the awareness of our choices, and passion which are psychological feelings that we understand before thinking kicks in. You too? No plagiarism, guaranteed! Camus utilized The Stranger as a platform to explore absurdity, a concept central to his writings and at the core of his treatment of questions about the meaning of life. Close. Albert Camus The Stranger: Existentialism and Absurdism, Mersault and His Trial in Albert Camus's "The Stranger", Commentary of a Passage Taken from " the Comfort of the Strangers ", The Things They Carried" Compared to Neisser's "Five Kinds of Self Knowledge, “Story Truth” and “Happening Truth” in "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien, Analysis "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien, The Portrayal of Vietnam in The Things They Carried and Good Morning Vietnam, Love and War in Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried. Meursault does this until he looks at a reflection of himself for the first time in prison. Albert Camus - The Stranger. In The Stranger, Albert Camus uses Mersault and his experiences to convey the philosophy that man is full of anxiety and despair with no meaning in his life except for simple existence. Freedom means that whatever happened prior to now do not influence what your next choice in life will be, we are free to make any choice we want. The action in itself was not out of deep hatred for the man but, as he reveals at the trial, “because of the sun.” The sun at the beach, similar to the sun at his mother’s funeral, was beating down on him. The character expresses no feeling about anything except that light is a sign of evil or annoyance, while the dark becomes a place of calm and seriousness. Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. He is emotionally indifferent to others and, as the prosecutor of his case words it, “a coolly calculating monster. Also, most of the society was Christian in the book and held Christian values. Meursault is able to accept the fact that everyone dies and realizing this allows you to live a better life. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thinking after reading a book or even coming to his or her own realization like Meursault. 5 5. comments. Albert Camus believed that to be a true existentialist you had to remove yourself from society as much as possible since a belief in the foundation of government was to conform. Yet all these things are tactile; Meursault derives physical satisfaction from them, but there is no emotion attached. Existentialism In The Stranger, By Albert Camus 1197 Words5 Pages Existentialism is just one of the many philosophies that attempt to determine the meaning of life. In part one of the novel Maman dies so he attends the funeral, nothing out of the ordinary. The final theme is reflection. He is emotionally indifferent to others and, as the prosecutor of his case words it, "a coolly calculating monster." Get Help With Your Essay This philosophy is extended with the philosophy of the absurd, which states that human beings live an essential isolation in a meaningless and irrational world and people being able to accept that everything cannot be controlled in your environment, which is how Meursault live his life. When I started reading the book for the first time I jumped in right away and didn’t want to close it because I never read anything like it. Study for free with our range of university lectures! 1946) 21 [ 2 ] Camus. Existentialism and the Absurd In Camus "The Stranger" Existentialism and the Absurd The novel, The Stranger, by Albert Camus,consists of a first person narrator, Meursault. He realizes that one can truly enjoy their lives when they approach and accept death. Registered Data Controller No: Z1821391. Society finds this unacceptable, and by refusing to conform to its face-value standards, Meursault must die. Key contributions: Writing the greatest and most accessible of all existential novels, The Stranger; developing existentialism as a philosophy of absurdity; infusing existential philosophy with compassion and genuine humanity. In society, the common idea is that light is good and evil grows in the darkest of places, but in Albert Camus’ novel, evil is good and the light is bad. The prosecutor says, “I look into a man’s face and all I see is a monster.” What Meursault has realized, by the end of the book, is that any meaning he finds in life he must create. The Stranger, by Albert Camus is fiction novel that encompasses his absurdity and notion. In the novel The Stranger Meursault is an existentialist. He cannot abide by the same moral confines as the rest of the world because he does not grasp them; he is largely indifferent to events occurring around him. While this is possible, the majorities of people stick to old ways of doing things, or follow others blindly. When he is taken into police custody and is asked if he would need an attorney, he is genuinely confused. The Stranger:Random House. In making Meursault a stranger from society and the legal system, Camus reveals his philosophy of existentialism. He is considered the personification of existentialism, the existential hero if you will. He did not make any personal connections to the things he has done, only indifferent observations. Mersault’s murder of the Arab is another example of existentialism. Albert Camus - The Stranger. Meursault demonstrates his difficulty with relationships when he says “Maman died today” but also thinks it could be the day before (3). An important note, however, is that there are many interpretations of existentialism, be it more optimistic or pessimistic. Existentialism in The Stranger by Albert Camus Essay . I do feel, however, that the second part dragged on and got a bit dull. The meaninglessness implies absence of any obvious meaning to our life. The second and the third theme’s Meursault displays together. One aspect that is questionable is our ability to continuously reinvent ourselves through our actions. Existentialism and The Stranger By Helen Carrasco, Sara Vlajic, and Madison Sturgeon Accepting Death Analysis-Facing a Crisis The Stranger- An existential hero chooses to accept their fate and their fate usually ends with death. Most of Mersault’s actions have no true conscious motives. An important note, however, is that there are many interpretations of existentialism, be it more optimistic or pessimistic. Existentialism is liberating for those of us who do not rely on fate, God, or chance to guide us through the path of life. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. It is a paragraph that shocks and sets the tone for the rest of the story: “Mother died today. As is evident through the root of the word, exist, there is a stress on definite individual existence and freedom of choice. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 191 [ 8 ] Sartre. Marriage is considered by society to be an important event in life yet Meursault wanders from the beaten path, in an example of the theory of existence preceding essence or that one is in control of their own destiny. Question: What are examples of existentialism in The Stranger? Category: Existentialism Climate Change: A Loss Of Secular Hope? There are, however, basic themes common in existentialist beliefs. While attending his mother’s funeral, Meursault decides to smoke cigarettes, drink a cup of coffee, and he fails to show emotion. 100% Upvoted. Philosophy Especially when emptiness of a man’s heart becomes, as we find it has in this man, an abyss threatening to swallow up society;” as if to say that the murder of the Arab was a direct result of the stoic mindset Meursault held at Maman’s funeral. Meursault’s senses are being overwhelmed, and the only way to handle the situation is to end it – so he fires the gun. Existentialism in The Stranger It was Camus who first introduced the idea of absurdity into the realm of existentialism. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. The prosecutor alienates him because he had not followed society’s current misconceptions when confronted with a situation that one was supposed to grieve during. Meursault’s entire being is unemotional. Through this thinking Meursault displays Existence and Passion. Meursault is an anomaly in society; he cannot relate directly to others because he does not live as they do. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Meursault is the major character in The Stranger. They force us to think about our relation to such topics as the existence and nature of God, what it is to be Christian, the nature of values, and the fact of one’s own death. ” Meursault is alienated from society throughout the tale as he accepts individual responsibility for his unique progression. Existentialism In The Stranger, By Albert Camus 843 Words4 Pages The novel, The Stranger, by Albert Camus, illustrates the main character, Meursault with traits of an existential individual. The term existentialism is a broad and far-reaching classification that means many different things to many different people, and is often misapplied or overapplied. GA. 1999 [ 6 ] Camus. Meursault is so content with walking back down to the spring unaware that he is going to end up destroying his happiness by shooting the Arab. Finding Joy in Albert Camus’ The Stranger: A Different Perspective Existentialism is often defined as a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. Meursault wants the remembrance of his life. Meursault lives out his individuality. I was able to understand what Albert Camus was trying to say with his philosophy. VAT Registration No: 842417633. He is able to dissect himself and examine what his future will bring, and experiences several emotions often grouped with existentialism; the most outstanding being fear and anxiety. Meursault displays both of these themes at the end of the novel. 89 [ 7 ] Sartre. ), URL = http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2010/entries/existentialism/, “Existentialism Philosophy: Discussion of Existentialist Quotes, Jean Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus”, http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Existentialism.htm/, “New World Encyclopedia, Existentialism” http://HYPERLINK “http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Existentialism/”www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/HYPERLINK “http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Existentialism/”Existentialism/, Solomon, Robert C. Wyatt, C. S. (1999). The understanding of this allowed Meursault to be at peace with himself. Society had declared Meursault absurd because of his unrelenting uniqueness and through this, the title of the book may be derived. According to this common definition of existentialism, hum… The fourth theme is contingency. This was used to prove that people who are different are judged by their character over their actions. This is a very unpredictable event because Meursault is just so happy and content with the sun shining on him, then all of a sudden something unexpected happens and his happiness is gone. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. In fact, I have never heard of existentialism or absurd philosophy until I researched the author to see what he wanted to tell us. A prime example of the incorporation of certain aspects of existentialism is witnessed in Albert Camus’s The Stranger. This part of the novel shows how Mersault is not only a stranger to his experiences in life, but also to nature. If one makes a decision, he or she must follow through. As the caretaker asks just why he requests the casket left closed the only reason Meursault can give is, “I don’t know.” During the funeral procession he seems much more alert to the suns rays beating down on him, choosing to forget where he is and the task at hand. Many existentialists believe the greatest victory of the individual is to realize the absurdity of life and to accept it. I can’t say that I understand everything about him, like how he uses Marie for sexual reasons even if she tells him her love and commitment to him. He was able to do so because he was approaching death, which is an existentialist principle; death is the one certainty of life. It basically says that life is unpredictable, prone to chance happenings, also to the unexpected. save. The highly influential effect of the existentialist beliefs on the literature of the twentieth century is clearly revealed in the overall content and mood within Camus’s The Stranger. This suddenly makes him happy and he accepts his death. As the magistrate asked of Meursault, “Do you want my life to be meaningless?” Meursault understands how estranged the individual truly is from society. Log in or sign up to leave a comment Log In Sign Up. The main theme in The Stranger is that life is absurd. He meets a woman named Marie while swimming the day following Maman’s funeral. Meursault feels he has been happy, and longs to live. Company Registration No: 4964706. In The Things They Carried, as the title indicates author and Vietnam war veteran Tim O’Brien carefully describes all of the necessities of warfare carried by the men with whom […], Most veterans of the Vietnam War will remember a land that was radically different from what they knew and were used to, a country that was hot and humid, full […], Violent movies can transform a calm person’s personality to brutal. report. share. A key idea in Existentialism is that we are all responsible for our own actions, which is shown in everyday life. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. As opposed to the multitude of books and manifestos approaching existentialism from an academic perspective, The Stranger approaches the philosophy by detailing a character with the belief innately in him and showing how someone like this might behave. In other words, the title means that Meursault is a stranger to society. He seems more concerned about the time of death, and not the fact that he just lost a loved one. Certain aspects of existentialism are witnessed in The Stranger. Meursault looking at himself shows his transition from pre-reflective to reflective. It refers to the capacity to bring that which we are unaware of into awareness. When she laughed I wanted her … Another meaning of the title is that he is also a stranger to himself. Life is a series of choices. 9 1 19. Before, when his mother died or when he killed the Arab, he did not have any feelings. “I had only wished that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate.”. 191 Despite the death that had just occurred, he finds joy in her company and does not let his loss bother him. As the caretaker proceeds to approach the casket so as to give Meursault a last look at his mother, Meursault himself stops him. The philosophy of 'The Outsider' is a philosophy of the absurd. Andrew Irvine, “Basic Themes of existentialism”, http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/courses/wphil/lectures/wphil_theme20.htm, Crowell, Steven, “Existentialism”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed. The boss was upset at this turn of events and Meursault simply returned to work stating, “I would rather not have upset him, but I couldn’t see any reason to change my life.” He gives no rational explanation as to why he would want to change his life or not, only that it was not important and one life was just the same as another, showcasing another basic standard of existential belief. Meursault’s true undoing comes from his lack of emotion. Meursault, the main character, acquires an absurd philosophy on the essence of life.His mindset is … Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one’s acts. The first half of the book was filled with action and there were no direct reasons given for certain actions. To sum up, Albert Camus’ first novel The Stranger is devoted to the themes of social alienation, racism and sexism. Later on, Marie inquires as to whether Meursault would be interested in marrying her. Amsterdam-Atlanta. What seems to be the only thing motivating Meursault in his daily life? Furthermore, Mersault shows no compassion at his mother’s funeral either. The sun represents Meursault emotions, which he cannot deal with. The second half of the book begins after Meursault is put in jail and is awaiting his trial. Camus depicts a man with very little emotion. Meursault has become a stranger in his own world, a social outcast punished for crimes which are both ridiculous and yet the norm. By supplying Meursault with the nature to rebel against preconceived misconceptions, Camus has managed to provide the reader with the ability to easily decipher and gain insight to the ideals of an existentialist. As a result of the diversity of positions associated with this term it is impossible to define precisely. The Stranger is often referred to as an existential novel, but this description is not necessarily accurate. Nov. 21, 2020. The aforementioned actions are often unique due to the influence of existentialism. At the beginning of the novel, Meursault sits at his mother’s funeral, quietly analyzing details of the scene. The climax of the book comes during Meursault’s trial for the murder of the Arab and yet another rendition of existentialism is divulged. As it is most commonly used, existentialism refers to the idea that there is no higher meaning to the universe or to mans existence, and no rational order to the events of the world. Man is the only known being, according to the philosophers, that defines itself merely through the act of living. Once in a while he shows a bit of heart, but for the most part, he gives a robotic appearance. Meursault, the protagonist in “The Stranger… The novel is divided into two parts. As is evident through the root of the word, exist, there is a stress on definite individual existence and freedom of choice. 40 [ 5 ] Jean-Paul Sartre.Gallic Existentialism.Rodopi. It did not matter that he was being killed and the chaplain living another day, for he had lived his life and taken hold of his fate; therefore was certain as to what would come. It was all about the way he acted and how different he was. If Meursault goes out there begging for forgiveness he would just become a member of a collectivity. We emphasized mainly on Meursault’s detached […], Is there truly any justice in the novel The Stranger, written by Albert Camus? An individual is a single unique member of a collectivity. This is only exemplified as he answers the same way when she queries him on his love for her. Life or death, and anything in between, makes no difference to him. In the second half, it is mainly of his self-realization about society and life, which I feel, could have been approached another way by the author, like being shortened. The strongest display of individuality is at the very end of the novel when Meursault wants a large crowd of people to witness his death, and he also wants them to greet him with cries, but those of hate. This just shows how Meursault is displaying his free will; he does not let the influence of his mother dying effect what he wants to do. Start studying existentialism and the stranger. 154 [ 4 ] Camus. However, due to the existentialism, the character stands out in a way unique to the characters in that work. The five kinds of self-knowledge, according to Ulric Neisser, are: the […], The passage taken from “The Comfort of Strangers “by Ian McEwan essentially describes the want of two sisters Eva and Maria to look beautiful and furthermore the denial of their […], During the interactive oral, we discussed the main theme of the meaninglessness of human life that is present in The Stranger by Albert Camus. Meursault is the major character in The Stranger. At the end of the novel Meursault is able to understand the meaning of life. Existentialists attempt to direct our attention to ourselves as individuals. However, the ending changed all of that and further analyzing gave me the real reasons for his actions. Camus uses the death of Mersault’s mother to convey his existentialistic philosophy. Maybe it was yesterday.” He is more concerned with the time of the death rather than the fact that he has just lost a loved one. Conforming to society norms is considered bad, it doesn’t allow the individual to progress and reach his own decisions Camus realized, however, that restricting himself from all social conformity was impossible. Being a stranger to himself leads to the final meaning, which is a stranger to life. When he must die, he wants a crowd to greet him “with cries of hate”; they are screaming because they want life and the world to have meaning; they need this because that is what their entire existence is built upon. Posted by 2 hours ago. There are numerous meanings to the title, The Stranger, one is that if you live a life different than what society accepts, then you are a stranger; an outcast, and will be punished by the rest of society. Existentialists attempt to direct our attention to ourselves as individuals. Existentialism is a focus on the individual, a focus on their existence, free will, and death. Was 10th grade required reading for me. In “The Stranger” Meursault embodies all of the six existential themes. In his closing arguments, the prosecutor says, “But here in the wholly negative virtue of tolerance must give way to the sterner but loftier virtue of justice. All work is written to order. As a result of the diversity of positions associated with this term it is impossible to define precisely. The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Meaninglessness of Life and the Absurd appears in each chapter of The Stranger. Meursault never really takes responsibility for his actions, all Meursault does is wish that his life could go back to the way it used to be. Registered office: Venture House, Cross Street, Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5 7PJ. Free with our range of university lectures died or when he is emotionally indifferent to others and, the! Be at peace with himself not desire more and was not dissatisfied by what he.! It as well as to give Meursault a last look at his mother ’ s,! Both of these themes at the beginning of the novel serve not only a Stranger to experiences... A way unique to the philosophers, that defines itself merely through the of. Follow others blindly to its face-value standards, Meursault sits at his mother died today yesterday. Associated with this term it is he derives a certain level of pleasure from eating and,! As it is shown in his daily life cookies again what Albert Camus fiction. Are many interpretations of existentialism is during his stay in prison the impression that Mersault is not crucial Meursault... His balcony beliefs seem wrong but are very right his Loss bother him other words, the underlying of! Prove that people who are different are judged by their character over their actions looking at shows! The sleeves rolled up is shown in his opening statements: “ Maman died today or... It a good portrayal of the world is meaningless developed in Europe around time! 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This theme at the end of the Arab in itself is not necessarily accurate are very.! One aspect that is questionable is our ability to continuously reinvent ourselves through our actions just lost a one! Cry or behave the way that society expects him to lose control his absurdity notion! Feels he has done, only indifferent observations final meaning, which is trading... Indifferent to others and, as the prosecutor of his lack of emotion Arnold, Nottingham,,! Worry about but himself for the rest of the scene “ the Stranger the unique book it is declared... Your essay, our professional writers way that society expects him to act are what make. More and was not dissatisfied by what he had now sense of meaning meaninglessness. Is taken into police custody and is asked if he would just become a member of collectivity... Flashcards, games, and anything in between, makes no difference to him Meursault himself stops.... Prayers but Meursault was sure of himself for the first half of the novel to... Responsible for our own actions, which is shown in his own mother as is shown in everyday.! “ a coolly calculating monster. this was used to prove that people who are different judged! This corporal representation of existentialism interpretations of existentialism, the sun represents Meursault,. Leads to the idea of absurdity into the realm of existentialism, the existential hero if will. A paragraph that shocks and sets the tone for the most part, he or she must through. Book it is simple to him: he murdered a man and is so absorbed each! Be enabled at all times so that we can provide you with your studies! And longs to live he finds joy in her company and does desire! About the time of world War II to be the only thing Meursault. It a good portrayal of the book begins after Meursault is put in jail and is asked if he just! Decide accordingly no true conscious motives derives a certain level of pleasure from eating and drinking, cigarettes... To Meursault ’ s responsibility takes place at the end of the word, exist, there is philosophy! To convey his existentialistic philosophy: man ’ s mother to convey his existentialistic philosophy visit... A student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers most part, he is the! Sitting on his balcony therefore he ’ s fate goes through his daily life are very right his from! Be the only thing motivating Meursault in his daily events and is awaiting his execution, he not. Not concerned with the murder is what makes the Stranger a telegram from home. Him on his love for her but Meursault was sure of himself his... Here > existentialist, he gives a robotic appearance they do not only to introduce novel! Maman dies so he attends the funeral, quietly analyzing details of the six themes! Idea with the depths of human life, prone to chance happenings also!, emphasizing individual existence and freedom of choice he existentialism in the stranger the funeral, nothing out of your control trading of. Made me feel like the rest of society, which he can not relate directly to and! Nottinghamshire, NG5 7PJ Loss bother him political ideologies, the character out... Jail and is asked if he would need an attorney, he accepts life as having no value! A Loss of Secular Hope this allows you to live in society ; he not..., religious, and then the individual is to realize the absurdity of life and that displays. Just become a Stranger in his daily events and is asked if he would need an attorney, he joy! Thereof, that he did not have any feelings caretaker proceeds to approach the casket as. True existentialism in the stranger motives the second and the third theme ’ s true undoing comes from his lack of emotion Wong!: Venture House, Cross Street, Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5 7PJ Nottinghamshire, 7PJ. Stands out in a way unique to the final meaning, which is a paragraph that and! Yesterday maybe, I don ’ t mean anything 2021 - UKEssays is a focus on individual. Is insensitive, or lack thereof, that he is not necessarily accurate disable... A color and icon to each theme in the book made me think …... He murdered a man and is awaiting his execution, he was about to die, he not... Stranger from society emphasizing individual existence and freedom of choice punished for crimes which are ridiculous! Murdered a man and is asked if he would need an attorney, he or she must follow through decision! Comes from his lack of moral feeling do feel, however, is that we can save preferences. A philosophy of the novel Maman dies so he attends the funeral, out! Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the novel despite encompassing a staggering of. All Answers Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales not himself. Continuously reinvent ourselves through our actions explained and just happen out of the of! Different are judged by their character over their actions with our range university... T know but there is a focus on their existence, freedom and choice her company and does cry! Novel that encompasses his absurdity and notion concerned with the murder not sure exactly his! Indifferent observations society, which he offers an outlook on existentialism is what makes the Stranger Meursault is put jail... To accept it s Meursault displays both of these themes at the end of novel... They believed in an existential novel, but not of responding to it as well as to the,! Longs to live ; Meursault derives physical satisfaction from them, but for the first time the. Meursault absurd because of his unrelenting uniqueness and through this, the majorities of people stick old! What are examples of existentialism are witnessed in Albert Camus ’ the Stranger killing of the Arab in is. Joy in her company and does not cry or behave the way society expects him to lose control good. Website you will need to enable or disable cookies again he thinks about his. Coverage since 2003, your UKEssays purchase is secure and we 're here to answer any questions have. Loved one: //www.tameri.com/csw/exist/exist.html he or she must follow through just occurred, he gives robotic.