Preview

Who Is Meursault In The Stranger By Albert Camus

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
183 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Who Is Meursault In The Stranger By Albert Camus
Most readers agree that Meursault in Albert Camus’ The Stranger is an emotionless character. This character trait is beneficial to Meursault throughout the story. When Meursault is informed that his mother had died, he announces “that [his mother dying] doesn’t mean anything” (3). Most people would be filled with sorrow if they found out their mother had passed away. Meursault also has a similar reaction when Marie asks if he loved her. He told Marie that “it didn’t mean anything but that [he] probably didn’t love her” and “if she wanted to, we could get married (41). People often spend a great time trying to figure out if they love someone enough to marry them as marriage is normally viewed as an important event in one’s life. Being heartbroken

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the story, “The Stranger”, by Albert Camus, Meursault the protagonist, does not think like most people. When his neighbor Raymond questions his opinion on Salamano a dog beater and how he beats his dog, Meursault does not think much. Meursault says to raymond “no” (camus 28). Meursault is very neutral and does not really judge people. On the other hand, most people are like Raymond. Raymond said that, “Salamano's acts are pitiful” (Camus 27). The thing with Raymond though, Raymond beats women. It is ironic that Raymond is fine with beating women, but beating a dog is unrighteous. On another note, Camus the author might have put Salomano in the story to continue the pattern of showing how Meursault has no emotion. Another reason, Camus…

    • 173 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The book starts off with Monsieur Meursault’s mothers’ death and he received a telegram from the home he put her in saying, “Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.” (3) He responds to the telegram saying, “That doesn’t mean anything.” (3) This makes the reader think that he doesn’t really care for his mother and maybe he didn’t like her especially since when he asked his boss for a couple days off and his boss looked angry he said “it wasn’t my fault” (3) and “I didn’t have anything to apologize for.” (3) Even when he was offered to see his mother’s corpse for the very last time he refused simply because he didn’t want to.…

    • 1947 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The ironic devices are used to further highlight the idea that Meursault doesn't belong in society. There's a part in the story that is considered to be situational irony, in the story Salamano quotes “I hope the dogs don't bark tonight. I always think it’s mine”. This is situational irony since one wouldn't expect for Salamano to miss his dog since he basically abuses it. The reason why this is important is because it show the humane side of Salamano something that Meursault doesn’t seem to be. That further shows that Meursault is so different from the rest of society. There is dramatic ironic when the court is in session, “Come now is my client on trial for burying his mother or for killing a man”. This is dramatic Irony because the reader…

    • 310 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory 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
  • Good Essays

    The Stranger by Albert Camus was centered on the character Meursault. He is a very strange character due to the fact that he hated change but then didn’t mind change in the end. “I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world.” The question is, does he change at all, how does he change to a dynamic character, why does he change, also when does he change?…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good 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

    In the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, the protagonist Meursault is a man who is indifferent to major events in his life which would deserve a "proper" reaction according to society. Also, the decisions he makes in his life are done carelessly and without a second thought about whether what he is doing is good or bad. As a result, Meursault is a stranger to society because of how differently his view on life is based on how he approaches certain aspects of life. Eventually, death is what connects Meursault to the society he was estranged from.…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “The Stranger” Meursault (on page 8) smokes and eats next to his mother's coffin. He has no feelings or emotions. He didn't even want to view the body for the funeral and he didn't cry. As stated before Meursault has no true feelings of things so he couldn't feel like you and I when we lose a loved one. Meursault's actions aren’t even evil he just can't process things the same which could be a totally different problem or issue.…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Albert Camus' story "The Guest," takes place in the rough terrain of Algeria at the end of World War II. Algeria, under French control at the time, was very tense due to civil unrest of the Arabic people. The protagonist of the story is Daru, a solitary French schoolteacher who lives at a school on a remote plateau that has been deserted due to a freak snowstorm after eight months of drought. Two minor characters, a French policeman, Balducci, and an Arab prisoner arrive at the school. Balducci commands Daru to deliver the prisoner to nearby authorities but Daru has a conflict over the decision of whether or not to take the Arab to prison. In the end, Daru leaves the decision up to the Arab. The Arab, being a flat and seemingly static character, somehow contributes significantly to the existentialistic nature of Daru's character and his actions. The author, an existentialist, tells the story with an indirect presentation. The central idea appears to be there is an inherent conflict between what different cultures view as morally right. We will analyze how the round/flat and dynamic/static qualities of the characters as well as the presentation affect the story's central idea.…

    • 1033 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Meursault doesn’t show any sign of emotion to his mothers death, he doesn’t feel any love or sorrow for her. A normal man would feel pain and regret for not being there when she died. He does not even know his mother’s exact age, he says “about sixty” when his boss asks him what her age was. The first example of Meursault not feeling anything was…

    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Camus uses Meursault as the narrator to establish his indifferent perspective of death in order to develop the reader’s sympathy for him while being criticized by the jury. In the opening of the book, Meursualt narrates his discovery of finding out Maman’s death and shows his uncertainty towards the day of her death. He expresses disinterest towards his mother’s death by being unaware of specific date, saying it was “yesterday maybe, I don’t know”. Next, Meursault narrates his thoughts, after being arrested, and forgets that he murdered a man. By forgetting the murder, he shows that he is indifferent towards the death of the man. While talking with the Chaplin, Meursault narrates his thoughts towards his own death. He is “sure of the death”…

    • 189 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Stranger begins with Meursault at the funeral of his Maman and it is soon seen that Meursault lacks emotions. The death of Maman starts Meursault’s rash decision making. A few days after the funeral, Meursault visits his neighbor Raymond. Raymond soon was asking Meursault to write a letter to his, Raymond’s, girlfriend telling her that he wants her back, “Raymond told me he didn't think he could write the kind of letter it would take and that he’d thought of asking me to write it for him. Since I didn't say anything, he asked me if I'd mind doing it right then and I said, no” (Camus 32). Meursault knew that the intent of the letter was to get the girlfriend back so that Raymond could beat her up. Meursault’s decision to help Raymond write this letter for Raymond shows that he, Meursault, does not worry about other people. Raymond’s ex-girlfriend soon shows up at Raymond’s apartment and “There were some thuds and the woman screamed, but in such a terrifying away that the landing immediately filled with people. Marie and I went to see, too” (Camus 35-36). Meursault is the reason that the women was beaten up and he feels no remorse for his actions, instead he testifies on behalf of Raymond. Meursault does not seem to realize that his actions directly caused the harm of another human being. This is not the only time that Meursault harms other with his action, he also ends up killing an Arab because of the letter Raymond convinced him to…

    • 1675 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Monsieur Meursault’s character development profoundly influences how the audience perceives him. In the beginning Monsieur goes to his mother’s funeral; when there, he does not exhibit much empathy towards the situation. “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know” (Camus 3). Reacting to his mother’s death in a cold nonchalant way gives the audience the impression that Meursault is emotionally aloof. Then, towards the end of the novel he begins to have more emotive sentiments. When a priest comes to Meursault’s jail cell to talk about religion, Meursault has an impassioned response. “Then… something inside me snapped. I started yelling at the top of my lungs, and I insulted him” (Camus 120). Compared to his casual response earlier, this passionate response shows the audience how he has progressed. Meursault’s major character development throughout the story helps the audience sympathize with him because everybody grows and develops in life. This character development is majorly influenced by the relationships that Monsieur Meursault…

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    brain cells take a break

    • 476 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In The Stranger, by Albert Camus portrays Meursault, the books narrator and main character, as detached, and unemotional. He does not think about others or consequences, nor does he express much feelings in his relationships or during emotional times. Meursault is vey impassive throughout the book. After his mother’s death he doesn’t even cry! He shows limited feelings for his girlfriend, Marie Cardona, and shows no remorse at all for killing Arab. His reactions to life and to people distance him from emotions, positive or negative, and from intimate relationships with others, that’s why the book is called “The Stranger”. While this would be considered a bad trait, there is a young woman who wants to have a relationship with Meursault and a neighbor who wants friendship. He seems to be continent to be indifferent, possibly protected from pain by his indifference. Meursault rarely shows any feeling when in situations, which would, for most people, have strong emotions. Throughout the vigil, watching his mother dead body, and at her funeral, he never cries. He is further viewed enjoying a cup of good coffee with milk during the vigil, and having a smoke with a caretaker at the nursing home in which his mother dies. The following day he goes to the beach and meet former colleague named Marie Cardona. They swim, go to a movie then have relations together that night. Later, in their relationship, Marie asks Meursault if he wants to get married and he responds by saying”doesn’t matter to me and if she wants to get married he will agree”. She then asks if he loves her, he responds by saying “that he probably doesn’t, and marriage isn’t a serious thing and doesn’t require love”. This reaction was typical of Meursault. He appears to be casual and indifferent about life events. Nothing seems to be very significant to him. Later, on in the book, after he kills Arab, not ounce did he show remorse or guilt for what he did. He is…

    • 476 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays