The Stranger by Camus
Christine Walsh
Mr. Adams
Period 7
AP Language & Composition
September 17, 2012
“Everything is true and nothing is true!”: Meursault’s Plague with Human Absurdity in Camus’s The Stranger In accordance with natural human behavior, we feel as though for every action there is a reaction, as well as a reason. We vie to inject logic inside our world because to accept the idea that there is not rationale for anything, including our own existence, is unthinkable. This idea that we unawarely manufacture reason to the world because in actuality, there is none, jeopardizes the very balance in our society. Our quest is not noble, rather fueled by our fear of uncertainty. Since the logic of our world is derived solely from the knowledge of pervious humans, we continue the pattern and attempt to create a sense of rational structure. Albert Camus explores this theory of “absurdity” in his narrative novel The Stranger, through his character Monsieur Meursault. The novel follows Meursault through his seemingly senseless life which perpetuates to his senseless murder of another man. Throughout his trial, the reactions to his lack of reasoning display this particular theory front & center. Within a excerpt from the latter of his trial chapter, Camus’s use of a removed tone, syntax, and lack of sentence fluency, ultimately illustrates humanity’s reaction when faced with the thought of a lack of meaning to the universe. After his reasonless killing of an innocent man, Meursault is faced with his trial. Contrary to his previous tone throughout the novel, his “steam of consciousness”thought process is replaced by a detached, almost reporter-like tone as he chronicles his own trial. Meursault has already previously confessed he was guilty to his legal party, but could not summon up a reason to why he killed the man. The opposing prosecutor then attempts to fabricate a rationale for Meursault’s actions by implementing events from his past, against him. Meursault’s few human
Mr. Adams
Period 7
AP Language & Composition
September 17, 2012
“Everything is true and nothing is true!”: Meursault’s Plague with Human Absurdity in Camus’s The Stranger In accordance with natural human behavior, we feel as though for every action there is a reaction, as well as a reason. We vie to inject logic inside our world because to accept the idea that there is not rationale for anything, including our own existence, is unthinkable. This idea that we unawarely manufacture reason to the world because in actuality, there is none, jeopardizes the very balance in our society. Our quest is not noble, rather fueled by our fear of uncertainty. Since the logic of our world is derived solely from the knowledge of pervious humans, we continue the pattern and attempt to create a sense of rational structure. Albert Camus explores this theory of “absurdity” in his narrative novel The Stranger, through his character Monsieur Meursault. The novel follows Meursault through his seemingly senseless life which perpetuates to his senseless murder of another man. Throughout his trial, the reactions to his lack of reasoning display this particular theory front & center. Within a excerpt from the latter of his trial chapter, Camus’s use of a removed tone, syntax, and lack of sentence fluency, ultimately illustrates humanity’s reaction when faced with the thought of a lack of meaning to the universe. After his reasonless killing of an innocent man, Meursault is faced with his trial. Contrary to his previous tone throughout the novel, his “steam of consciousness”thought process is replaced by a detached, almost reporter-like tone as he chronicles his own trial. Meursault has already previously confessed he was guilty to his legal party, but could not summon up a reason to why he killed the man. The opposing prosecutor then attempts to fabricate a rationale for Meursault’s actions by implementing events from his past, against him. Meursault’s few human
Cited: Camus, Albert. The Stranger. New York: Vintage International, 1989