"Stranger Danger" Fears

I find Camu's belief that life is pointless - and to achieve meaning or "true happiness," means coming to terms with the mundane nature of the regularity of every day life, rather depressing. To me, Meursault is the epitome of someone I would never want to become, Camu has created someone that I tend to lose sympathy for as the novel progresses.

Part of me wonders what Camu's goal was in creating this character - someone that the reader felt connected to, and thus felt overwhelmed with pity when he was sentenced to a depressing death? Or someone the reader scoffs at, feeling relief that Meursault seems to be getting his due?

I do see obvious signs that society is punishing Meursault for staying true to his convictions - for being lifeless and unfeeling in a emotion-filled world. But I also see Meursault at fault. I cannot feel totally bad for Meursault because I do not see him as the "hero" in the story. He is still someone who kills another man, one that does not think about his actions, and someone I would never want to become or even associate with.