The Stranger Absurdism

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The Stranger by Albert Camus tells the tragic story of a man named Meursault. Meursault adheres to the philosophy of absurdism, which greatly influences his worldview. Absurdism teaches that the universe is meaningless and absurd. Because of Meursault’s belief in this philosophy, most people that he encounters in The Stranger find him to be an emotionless being. Meursault cannot grasp why people do not understand him, which often makes him feel isolated from others. In The Stranger, author Albert Camus portrays the meaning of the title by emphasizing the idea of isolation in the main character, Meursault. Isolation is present in Meursault during his mother’s funeral, his relationship with Marie, and his trial.
The first major event in The Stranger that …show more content…

He seems to view the relationship as one that is convenient to him, and he does not really care about the way Marie feels. This is evidenced by the way he responds to certain ideas that Marie has. “When she laughed I wanted her again. A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn’t mean anything but that I didn’t think so. She looked sad. But as we were fixing lunch, and for no apparent reason, she laughed in such a way that I kissed her” (35). Meursault does not seem to grasp that love is important to Marie. Love means nothing to him as evidenced by the previous example. Meursault views the relationship immensely different than Marie views it. Meursault looks at it as something physical that is convenient for him. He does not confide in Marie or try to get to know her on a personal level. Marie is interested in this part of the relationship, as evidenced by her question about love. Even in what is supposed to be a serious endeavor by human standards, Meursault is still isolated in his relationship with Marie. In addition to Meursault’s relationship with Marie, the idea of isolation is carried into his murder

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