Boy

Many of Albert Camus’ novels focus on the idea of an absurdist nature – this idea is primarily evident in novel, The stranger. Camus uses the main character Meursault to illustrate the philosophy of the Absurd. Meursault’s response to religion, relationships and his passive nature confirm that he is an absurdist. It is required for Meursault to remain static and indifferent about life in order to represent an absurdist.

Albert Camus integrates the absurdist nature through Meursault’s response to religion. The absurdist is mindful of religion, as he believes that life is meaningless and irrelevant. The concept of religion representing a purpose for existence is broken apart through the way Meursault behaves. Prior to Meursault’s execution, the chaplain speaks with him and Meursault replies saying “ But everybody knows life isn’t worth living. Deep down I knew perfectly well that it doesn’t much matter whether you die at thirty or seventy, since in either case men and women will naturally go on living – and for thousands of years” (pg.108). This conversation occurs in the last chapter of the novel as Meursault is about to be executed as consequence for murder. The interesting thing about this quote is that although Meursault is confronted with death, he remains indifferent. Normally, if an individual is about to be executed, he/she is repentant, remorseful and filled with emotions. However, Meursault almost seems satisfied with idea of death. Similar to an absurdist, he does not think life is worth living. Meursault’s explains his belief of life being an endless cycle without meaning. Therefore, it does not matter whether or not a person dies at the young age of thirty or at the age of seventy because there is no use to their exi...

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...ng to say. I thought about it. I said, No.” (pg.107) After being given an opportunity to defend him self, Meursault chose to say nothing. He was more mindful of what the people were thinking rather than what was said. His passive nature resulted in his execution. The novel might have ended differently suppose Meursault would have defended him self.

Meursault’s static and indifferent character throughout the novel helps to prove that he is an absurdist. In the novel, in terms of religion, relationships and passivity, Meursault follows the philosophy of the absurd. This means that although he aims to find purpose and reason in everything, he contradicts everything with reason and all common sense. In many of his books, Albert Camus takes a character and builds him/her into an absurdist in order to educate and inform his readers on his philosophy of the absurd.