The Paper of the Absurd: a Literary Analysis of the Stranger
The Paper of the Absurd: A Literary Analysis of The Stranger
By: Michael Lovett
Advanced Placement English Language and Compositions
5th Period
13th of December, 2010
Michael Lovett In Albert Camus’ existential novel The Stranger, the pointlessness of life and existence is exposed and expounded upon in such a manner that the entire foundation of spirituality is shaken. The concept that drives this novel is one coined by Albert Camus himself, the “absurd”. Under the absurd, life is pointless and holds no meaning. One lives merely to fulfill the obligation of living. Also, every possible action conceivable is governed by the static tools of chance and coincidence. The dynamic character, Meursault, is the primary outlet that Camus uses to apply this concept. He, Meursault, lives out a relatively normal life of indifference until the pivotal climax of the novel changes him. It is at this point that he acknowledges the absurdity of his situation and begins the inevitable acceptance of his own futile existence. Throughout the beginning of the novel, one can’t help but to notice the indifference and “listless detachment” (Oxford Companion 101) of Meursault. From the very first page, we begin to realize the depth of his lack of feelings: “Maman died today. Or Maybe yesterday. I don’t know” (Camus 3). It is obvious that after his own mother dies, he shows no sentiment (Magill 346). Shortly after the funeral is complete, he grabs the hand of a woman he once knew and quickly forgets the incidents of his tragic loss. The depth of his indifference flows throughout the entire novel. “I said I didn’t think anything except that it was interesting” (Camus 32), “I told her [Marie] that it didn’t mean anything” (Camus 35), “For some reason, I thought of Maman. But I had to get up early the next morning…and I went to bed without any dinner” (Camus 39). As one can tell, Meursault has an abundance of nothingness as it relates to feelings. He feels nothing
Michael Lovett 3
for
By: Michael Lovett
Advanced Placement English Language and Compositions
5th Period
13th of December, 2010
Michael Lovett In Albert Camus’ existential novel The Stranger, the pointlessness of life and existence is exposed and expounded upon in such a manner that the entire foundation of spirituality is shaken. The concept that drives this novel is one coined by Albert Camus himself, the “absurd”. Under the absurd, life is pointless and holds no meaning. One lives merely to fulfill the obligation of living. Also, every possible action conceivable is governed by the static tools of chance and coincidence. The dynamic character, Meursault, is the primary outlet that Camus uses to apply this concept. He, Meursault, lives out a relatively normal life of indifference until the pivotal climax of the novel changes him. It is at this point that he acknowledges the absurdity of his situation and begins the inevitable acceptance of his own futile existence. Throughout the beginning of the novel, one can’t help but to notice the indifference and “listless detachment” (Oxford Companion 101) of Meursault. From the very first page, we begin to realize the depth of his lack of feelings: “Maman died today. Or Maybe yesterday. I don’t know” (Camus 3). It is obvious that after his own mother dies, he shows no sentiment (Magill 346). Shortly after the funeral is complete, he grabs the hand of a woman he once knew and quickly forgets the incidents of his tragic loss. The depth of his indifference flows throughout the entire novel. “I said I didn’t think anything except that it was interesting” (Camus 32), “I told her [Marie] that it didn’t mean anything” (Camus 35), “For some reason, I thought of Maman. But I had to get up early the next morning…and I went to bed without any dinner” (Camus 39). As one can tell, Meursault has an abundance of nothingness as it relates to feelings. He feels nothing
Michael Lovett 3
for