Meursault In The Stranger, By Albert Camus

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Recommended: Existential themes in the stranger

The story of The Stranger, written by Albert Camus, displays the recurring theme of exile through the life of character, Meursault. Throughout most of his adult life Meursault seemed to not only be withdrawn from his emotions, but from those around him almost as if he had exiled himself from society. In the book Meursault mentions “Usually people didn't pay much attention to me”(83). Through the text with Meursault people do notice him. He just doesn't register emotions or normal human behavior not understanding society becoming an outcast. When Meursault is actually exiled from those around him, and is thrown in jail is when he realizes emotions and the idea of freedom. In the beginning of the story the Meursault demonstrates lack of emotions, detachment, and …show more content…

Some change that was shown was through the relationship with Marie, “…maybe she gotten tired of being the girlfriend of a condemned man.”(15) was while being exiled Meursault finally acknowledges Marie as his girlfriend instead of just someone to ease his physical desires, and starts to feel remorse for what he did that led to losing her. Up until his point of exile, Meursault doesn't show emotion towards his mother and is almost cynical in the way he conducts himself when at the funeral and his lack of empathy towards the people grieving over her. Then towards the end of the novel Meursault says, “So close to death, Maman must have felt free then and ready to live it all again. Nobody, nobody had the right to cry over her” (122). This conveys that the reason he was annoyed by others grieving and feeling sorry for her was that he viewed her death as even though she was going to die, She had lived a good life and was ready to pass. That is why Meursault doesn't grieve because he has already come to terms with the freedom that comes with

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