Is Mersault Misunderstood? Or Is He Just.... a Jerk?

In reading The Stranger through a feminist lens, it becomes extremely apparent that the man who Camus is attempting to establish as the "protagonist" of his story is well, kind of a jerk. Mersault proves time and time again his lack of respect for not only the women in his life, like Marie or Maman, but women as a whole. Mersault views himself as both the hero and the victim, and has somewhat of a "crybaby" attitude. While in prison, he places himself on a higher pedestal, not understanding immediately why he should not be allowed all of the privileges he once had as a free man. He also immediately puts himself at the level of the guards, rather than his fellow prisoners.

Additionally while in prison, Mersault  showcases a lack of respect for women, especially Marie. He is so self absorbed and misogynistic, he does not care what woman he is with, as long as she is pleasuring HIM- serving HIM. He says that "[he] thought so much about women, about all the ones I had known, about all the circumstances i which I had enjoyed them...". Mersault obviously only views women as something to gain pleasure from, rather than individual people with emotions and opinions. 

I don't know what Camus' goal was, but if it was for Mersault to be a character to be sympathetic to, he's failed in my book.