Meursault's Absurdism Anonymous 12th Grade

In "The Stranger" by Albert Camus, the main character, Meursault, is seen to be a very passive and reserved individual. He appears to show indifference in situations where others would have shown emotion. These characteristics of Meursault, and society's distorted perceptions of them, lead Meursault to be thought of as heartless and almost psychopathic. The truth is, Meursault just does not care about worldly events. This is in accordance with the absurdist philosophy, which describes the human struggle to find meaning in an irrational world, and the mental conflict that ensues. In prison, Meursault's take on life and death takes a turn, and his philosophy expands as he comprehends more about his own beliefs.

When Meursault is in jail, he undergoes an awakening of sorts. He is able to understand himself better. Initially, his physical needs get in the way of his understanding himself. He wants to be with Marie, and he wants to be able to look at nature as he did from his balcony. His limited resources in his prison cell (sleeping on wooden planks, a wash basin, and one window looking out toward the sea) allow him to focus on himself. At one point, Meursault comes to hold the opinion that it did not matter when a person died....