Meursault, the main character in Arthur Camus', The Stranger, has no concern for life -- his or that of others. This is evident in Chapter 5 when Meursault's boss offers him a promotion and a chance to work in Paris. Meursault responds by saying that it is all the same to him, showing absolutely no interest in the opportunity to improve his life. When his boss pursues his lack of excitement, asking him if he is not interested in a change of life, Meursault explains "[P]eople never change their lives, that in any case one life was as good as another and that I wasn't dissatisfied with mine here at all" (41).
Meursault expresses that it does not matter to him how he lives his life. But why does he think this way? It certainly matters to most people.
At multiple points in the book Meursault is presented as an existentialist (or at least he shares some similar views). The reason that Meursault does not show any interest in changing his life is because he believes that in the end everyone is going die regardless of what they do. And, since he is not religious he does not believe in an afterlife that would impact the choices he makes during life. Therefore, no matter the manner in which he lives he will end up the same way. Dead.
This is interesting. You made some statements about existentialism and how Meursault is one--or at least has qualities similar to those of an existentialist. I definitely agree that Meursault believes that life is meaningless and that people will all end up the same way no matter what they do, but Mearsualt still ends up caring about people and what they think of him He wants them to be at his execution and hating him so he can have some sort of confirmation of his beliefs, but his wanting them to be there contradicts everything about existentialism. He is basing his identity on other people, and a true existentialist would not do so.
ReplyDeleteMeursault's outlook on life is so negatively bland, and I feel your analysis strengthens that. Meursault hardly cares about relationships, or money, he really does not care about anything. But somehow, his outlook on life works for him. I think it would be so boring to live the way that he does.
ReplyDeleteHey I agree with your analysis. Although he may base his identity off of some people and parts of society, for the most part he is an individual when it comes to the meaning of life. His reaction to the job offer indeed shows his idea that everyone will die one day and that it doesn't matter what you do. Meursault is unique because of this. It's interesting to me how he doesn't care about life to an extent yet he thoroughly analyzes it.
ReplyDeleteHey I agree with your analysis. Although he may base his identity off of some people and parts of society, for the most part he is an individual when it comes to the meaning of life. His reaction to the job offer indeed shows his idea that everyone will die one day and that it doesn't matter what you do. Meursault is unique because of this. It's interesting to me how he doesn't care about life to an extent yet he thoroughly analyzes it.
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