Meursault as Christ

In the preface to the first American edition of The Stranger, Camus describes Meursault as “the only Christ we deserve.”

There are many parallels between the stories of Meursault and Christ. Both figures are messengers of doctrines that fundamentally challenged contemporary societal norms. Both are misunderstood and put on trial. Both refuse to defend themselves. Both face death.

At the same time, Camus actively juxtaposes Meursault against Christ. Several times throughout the novel, Meursault finds himself in opposition with christianity: first, when he refuses to follow funerary customs after his mother’s death; then, when he is confronted by the magistrate during the examination; and finally, in the conversation with the chaplain. The magistrate is onto something when he characterizes Meursault as “Monsieur Antichrist” (71).

The biggest difference between Christ and Meursault is the extraversion and optimism of the former. In the story of the New Testament, Christ is an inspirational figure: while his story is tragic, it asserts a hopeful view of larger-than-life concepts, such as supreme justice, rebirth and life after death. Jesus consciously preaches his revolutionary doctrine and, even during his life, has a group of followers who recognize his message. His death is meaningful and is followed by resurrection.

Meursault, on the other hand, deals with his worldview alone. He can’t formulate a coherent position until moments before his death, let alone proselytize it. The only person that he shares his thoughts with is the chaplain, and it doesn’t seem likely that the latter will take Meursault’s ideas to heart. Meursault prepares to die misunderstood, greeted with “cries of hate” (123). Everything that he learned will die with him, leaving no hope for global change, salvation, redemption, or any other effect of transcendent value.

Yet, Meursault still has an audience: the readers of the novel. Clearly, Camus designed Meursault as the ”absurd hero”, the Jesus of existentialism. Meursault’s role in the novel is similar to that of Christ in the New Testament: to bring an ontological idea to life by allowing the readers to live it through a character’s experience.