Preview

The Stranger By Camus Research Paper

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
425 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Stranger By Camus Research Paper
The real standard of existentialism is the dismissal of God, which is extremely apparent in Camus' The Stranger, where the protagonist, Meursault, declines the idea of God's existence. Most of the existentialists believed that there are two replacements for the issue of God, either individuals are not free and God, the supreme, is in charge of shrewdness; or individuals are free and dependable yet God is not supreme. When it comes to Meursault, the second option appears to be a more grounded likelihood, which implies that God is not almighty, and man gets to be god, who likes to stay and face the world and its absurdity by battling against it. Though Camus did not consider himself as a part of The Theatre of Absurd, most of his works were witnessed to be somehow related to the idea of how the world is an absurd place. Therefore, though he refused to be labelled as a existentialist, he is considered to be one. …show more content…
When the magistrate keeps on trying to force Meursault to go back to God and start believing in christianity and the existence of God. Refusing salvation, Meursault is somehow rejecting any system that is forced upon humanbeings. To Meursault, by accepting christianity, he is adapting to the idea that the universe is rational and meaningful. Another scene explaining the idea of the denial of God is through the encounter amongst Meursault and the chaplain happens. Meursault refuses the idea of someone lecturing him towards christianity or God. Though the chaplain tries to force Meursault into christianity, he tries talking to him in a soft tone by mentioning how Meursault has goodness in him but he does not know. However, Meursault becomes very angry with the chaplain and refuses to see him for the third

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    He becomes more depressed than ever before and the reader can sense his wanting to give up. At first it seems as if his depression shows a lack of emotion, but I disagree. I believe that these moments of depression highlight his emotion; showing just how much he wants to quit. This is a major step considering that earlier he wanted nothing for himself, but only for others. The depression takes over a large section of the book, but towards the very end one can see the joy that Meursault is overcome with. As he realizes that he was correct all along, he feels content. This really is the first and only time Meursault feels and fully shows his emotions without any distractions. He states “...I too felt ready to start life all over again...To feel it so like myself, indeed, so brotherly, made me realize that I’d been happy and that I was happy still” (154). This quote, from the very last paragraph of the book, is the only incite into the full, unguarded emotion of Meursault. His sentencing first led to many more feelings of distress than ever; then concluded in him accepting himself and showing his true…

    • 783 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    However, similar to how he reacted at his mother's funeral, he showed the same indifference, replying to her romantic gesture with the same phrase, “It doesn't matter”. The fact of the matter is that to Meursault it wouldn’t make a difference to him whether they get married or not, things would still be the same before, during and after. While the disconnect from his mother’s funeral proved he felt no sadness, the disconnect from Marie’s proposal shows he is incapable of expressing happiness in a situation in which happiness is typically felt. The same, “so what” mentality is shown in both of the varying events further showing how withdrawn Meursault is from the rest of society. He accomplishes the impossible task of feeling nothing, no matter what situation he is faced…

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The opening of “The Stranger” Meursault is informed of his mother’s death. Meursault tells us: “I got a telegram from the home: “Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.” That doesn't mean anything.” (page 3); a very strong statement to set the mood of this chapter. When he finished reading the telegram his first thought is: “That doesn't mean anything.” this can give the reader the idea that Meursault is disconnected, cold, and perhaps that he may have never been very close to his mother. Throughout the first chapter Meursault appears cold, and disconnected, perhaps because of his neutrality in his approach to his mother’s death. Another good example of this disconnection that Camus establishes is when Meursault's boss is displeased with him for taking time off “I even said “It's not my fault.” He didn't say anything. Then I thought I shouldn't have said that. After all, I didn't have anything to apologize for." (p.3)…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Meursault is sentenced to death by guillotine. He awaits everyday waiting for the footsteps of the men to come and execute him. During this time Meursault has done much thinking and begins to think to himself that death is inevitable. This realization of death’s inevitability constitutes Meursault’s triumph over society. Expressing remorse over his crime would implicitly acknowledge the murder as wrong, and Meursault’s punishment as justified. The chaplain tries to come to him and speak to him about God, but he still is unwillingly to accept that there is a God.…

    • 248 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate." (Camus 122-3). He felt as if he was ready to live again just like Maman before she had passed away. Meursault is an absurd hero at the end because he accepted death, passing the Absurd Walls and into the absurd freedom, where one can experience life to the fullest.…

    • 1522 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    This story further adds to the theme of absurdism throughout the novel because there was no reason for the son to die such as there was no reason for the Arab to die. During Meursault’s trial, there is an attempt to create a reason for his crime despite there not being one. Unlike the philosophy of absurdism, the court believes in reason and order which leads to the establishment of a cause for Meursault’s crime even if it is false. Once Meursault is sentenced to death, he realizes that he no longer has the choice between life and death that all humans are given in life. He instead has death as his only “choice”. Through this, he sees that there is no difference between dying from execution and dying in the future from a different cause. Meursault then accepts that the world is as indifferent as he is to people and finds peace in this realization.…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Albert Camus’s novel The Stranger, Camus shows his inherent absurdist perspective of life through commentary and actions Meursault displays as a result of symbolic use through the heat, sun, and dreams. These symbols dominate Meursaults consciousness controlling him through torment from the inescapable presence the sun and heat governs, causing him to act in ways deemed iniquitous to society. Each symbol opposes its usual description of warmth, comfort, or beauty and instead reflects upon Meursaults awareness of the sensate world to avoid the emotional and social constructs that present him.…

    • 287 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people in society can be considered by outsiders by society. These sorts of characters, along with being found in modern day society, are also found in all forms of media such as Scott Pilgrim in Scott Pilgrim Versus the World, Colonel Aureliano Buendia from One Hundred Years of Solitude, and even Doctor Gregory House from acclaimed television series House. These characters provide us with a fascinating viewpoint on how they view society and how they are able to interact with society as a result of this isolation and ostracism from society. Arguably one of the greatest examples of this isolated character challenged by society’s very moral center is the character of Meursault of Albert Camus’ The Stranger. Camus throughout The Stranger…

    • 1333 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Those that have different morals or ways of life should be treated lower than others. However, the case that follows Meursault’s trial has nothing to do with what he has done, the prosecution is grabbing at straws and although the point that he is trying to make, Meursault is an immoral being that doesn’t belong in this world, is true, he went about it the wrong way. When the judge asks Meursault to explain his actions, he responds by saying that the sun was in his eyes. After the break, Meursault feels small and unimportant because his lawyer explains the order of events as if he is Meursault himself. This little bit of anger from Meursault is the first real and genuine emotion he has displayed since the book started.…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When Meursault is talking to his lawyer, he is ridiculed for saying that he was ‘tired and sleepy’ on the day of Maman’s funeral, “He thought for a minute. He asked me if he could say that that day I held back my natural feelings. I said, ‘No, because that’s not true.’ He gave me a look, as if he found me slightly disgusting” (Camus 63). A man vs. man conflict is created by Meursault’s honesty and his lawyer;s aversion to his answer. Meursault’s own lawyer expresses his hostility towards Meursault, and therefore can no longer objectively and fairly defend Meursault. In addition to his lawyer’s hostility, Meursault experiences condemnation from the Magistrate after revealing he is an atheist, “… the judge would lead me to the door on his office, slap me on the shoulder and, and say to me cordially, ‘That’s all for today, Monsieur Antichrist.’ I would then be handed over to the police” (Camus 68). By using a critical tone to an ideal that all people should have faith, and those who don’t are wrong, the magistrate created an unjust prejudice against Meursault. Similiarly, during Meursault’s trial, the funeral director is testifying about the events at Maman’s funeral. “… and said that I hadn’t wanted to see Maman, that I hadn’t cried once and that I had left right after the funeral without paying respect to her grave…the prosecutor exclaimed, ‘Oh no, that is quite sufficient!’… I had this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much these people all hated me” (Camus 86). By using a harsh tone towards Meursault, a despairing mood is created regarding Meursault’s fate. The prosecutor knows that because man is subjective, a jury…

    • 1287 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Meursault's Exile

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In part II of the novel, Meursault, is thinking about his situation and decide that it is time to for once attempt to understand his actuality and what it truly stands for. As Meursault is isolated in this jail cell, he has no choice but to reflect on his past and actions and it seem like the only fair-minded thing for him to do at the moment. In this dark time, Meursault’s eyes began to see. Meursault most certainly does suffer thinking about his execution that is to come, and because of his situation he began to think about his real purpose in society and his place in the world. As very much unwanted, Meursault, had to have his showdown with death and this was the thing that caused him to open his arms to the world. Meursault came to a conclusion that the only way that he can make these last moments of his life happy instead of dreadful, was to to maintain and stick to his beliefs. All throughout his life he was unable to find anything worth making an effort for until this moment. It was different for him because he has finally come to realization of how beautiful life can be if you let it take its natural course. Meursault miraculously used his death sentence as a way to redeem himself and his life. At the end of the novel when he was alone was when his eyes had opened up. His deep…

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In The Stranger, Camus’ treatment of nature demonstrates how he sees nature as unrelated to and uninterested in human activity. In the text of The Stranger, Mersault tells the reader, a woman at his mother’s funeral reported “If you go too slowly there's the risk of a heatstroke. But, if you go too fast, you perspire, and the cold air in the church gives you a chill." I saw her point; either way one was in for it.” (Camus 16) This statement comes early in the text and is part of setting up the action. In it, Camus shows the reader how nature goes on unrelated to human activity by implying Mother Nature simply is what she is. Human beings have their ways and, due to the choices we make based on our environment, we may have good or bad outcomes, but those choices are still our own and nature cannot be measured by those outcomes. Meursault’s decision to walk slow and get heatstroke or fast and perspire is merely his decision to interact with nature one way or another. No matter what he does or how he refers to nature, the sun and its heat is just being what it is.…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The essay: “The Myth of Sisyphus” and the novel: The Stranger, both by Albert Camus, are conjoined with the similar theme of exploring existentialism, or finding the meaning/purpose of one’s life. The essay’s relevance to the novel is well established by Camus’ explanation of the concept of “the absurd” and how this philosophy governs the actions of all human action. Camus describes Sisyphus as the “absurd hero” in the essay, however this title seems transcendent to Meursault, the protagonist in The Stranger, as both characters constantly struggle against the philosophy of “the absurd”. The aforementioned relationship between “the absurd” and human action in Camus’ two works are further validated by remarks throughout both.…

    • 641 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Because Meursault does not conform to social norms, the audience can relate because they, too, do not want to conform to some of society’s norms, but do not see themselves reflected in Meursault’s action, for many people care too much about societal etiquette. Camus makes the audience ponder about a society with people who are existentialist like Meursault, who do not conform to society’s norms and do as they please. Would society be functional because everyone has one’s own selfish purpose in life? Or would society be similar to society now because all outsiders would be the same and are no longer considered strangers rather just…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    If people were to accept that absurdism exists then that would mean that life is irrational and has no arrangements of any sort. This would mean that everything mankind has done so far to progress itself through society and religion means absolutely nothing because both are used to control chaos from happening in the first place. Consequently, if a person is known to be an absurdist, people would generally think that means someone who lives a life without any meaning. However, this is not true because a life can be lived out rationally or irrationally and be meaningful at the same time because it is a choice. The Stranger, written by Albert Camus, takes place in Algeria in the mid 1940's. Around this time period,…

    • 1583 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays