After talking about existentialism in class, it was clear that Camus' The Stranger had many existentialist themes throughout it. The main character in The Stranger, Meursault, was a prime example of existentialism, specifically the idea of radical individualism. This is the reason that Meursault was found guilty of murder and set to be executed. Radical individualism places the rights of the individual over society, instead of the other way around. Because of this, the individual tends to isolate him/herself, which is what Meursault does in The Stranger.
We first see this at the beginning of the story when Meursault learns of his mother's passing. The uncertainty that is seen when Meursault receives the telegram is one of the first instances we see that he is detached from society. Later on, when Meursault is walking in the funeral procession, he is never focused on the funeral itself, rather the heat (which is also a recurring theme). He never cries at the funeral, and never feels remorse when he kills the Arab on the beach. Because Meursault puts himself above the rest of society, he is punished for his radical individualism. This may be why writers tend to avoid being called existentialists in order to avoid the scrutiny that they may face.
I think that people tend to avoid existentialism as a topic, because they are comfortable in their own worlds. I think Mersault finds lots of discomfort in his world, which is one reason that he clings to existentialism.
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