The Foundation of Spirituality in Albert Camus' Novel, The Stranger

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The pointlessness of existence is uncovered and expounded upon with an approach such that the foundation of spirituality is disturbed in Albert Camus’ existential novel “The Stranger”. The conception that compels this novel is one Albert Camus named himself, the “absurd”. An absurd person lives simply to fulfill the obligation of existence. In addition, static tools of chance and coincidence govern all action. Camus uses Mersault, as the primary vehicle to relate this concept. Mersault, lives out a seemingly normal life of indifference until the central climax of the novel changes him. Here he concedes to the absurdity and begins the necessary acceptance of his own futile existence in order to find contentedness with his life before his death.
The conflict between the human tendency to seek and inability to find meaning is referred to as the “Absurd”. Camus’ character Mersault, in the stranger varies on this continuum.
Starting as a theme in existentialist works, the absurd branched out to form its own to stand alone as its own philosophy. Absurdism addresses the fact that huma...

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