Absurdity
Although it is unclear whether life has meaning or not, society nevertheless desires to manufacture meaning behind existence much like the society portrayed in Albert Camus’s The Stranger. Camus’s portrayal of Meursault ultimately defines a lost soul, a man who embodies no emotions and no rational order. His indifference separates him from the society where everything that happens must have reasons and explanations. Unlike society, Meursault reflects on the title “The Stranger” in which one identifies as a foreigner within his own society because he doesn’t care for what he believes he can not control, which is his life. As humanity attempts to build and impose meaning on Meursault in the preceding of the trial and before he is sentenced to death, Albert Camus projects what he calls the Absurd where others have the authority over his life when he doesn’t.
Before the preliminary of the trial, the two policemen place Meursault in a small room where he hears “voices, shouts, chairs being dragged across the floor” (82). Meursault appears to have no fear toward anything even though he is about to go into trial. Instead, he thought about “neighborhood fetes” and was well interested into seeing the trial. Meursault isn’t really taking his trial seriously because he pokes fun at the screeching noises. Most people would be in fear before a trial especially after hearing such uproar, but Meursault takes in the piercing sound and compares it with happy cheers from parties like he’s having the best time of his life. It exemplifies the carelessness that Meursault has for his life. As the preliminary trial begins, Meursault’s persona begins to unfold from being careless to actually having feelings and emotions in life. He spots “the sun filtered through in places” (83). It felt like the sun was projecting a sense of hope and discovery like light and goodness still existed and it was entering. There was an imagery of god sending him a message and that there was still hope for Meursault to hold onto his life.
Then Meursault notices “a row of faces in front” (83) of him. Camus uses the court scene to symbolize society as a “whole” which Meursault describes that there was nothing to “distinguish one from another” (83). At this point, everyone is looking at him as if they are there to judge him. He “hadn’t realized that all those people were crowding in to see” (83) him, but now he’s at center stage between all the people and it is him versus society. Meursault is in constant conflict with society because his life exceeds beyond his control. The lawyers, juries, and witnesses now have the power to determine his fate. Meursault had been advised to “respond briefly to the questions” (85) and to “leave the rest to him (his lawyer)” (85). Unable to have any word on his own trial, his life is in the hands of others which is ultimately absurd because the witnesses are given the right to determine his life. As a result, the prosecutor makes false assumptions to the case, using non relevant information concerning his reaction on the day of his mother’s death to support what is undefined and what Meursault believes to be plain “bad luck”(92). The trial depicts nothing more than a “perfect reflection of… everything is true and nothing is true!” (91) The prosecutor never achieved a reason for why he shot the Arab, but improvised his own reason. Even without solid proof, the jury finds him guilty. His life was basically determined by people like Thomas Perez, who he met only for one day.
When the father speaks to Meursault concerning religion, it portrays a similar authoritarian over Meursault as the trial. The father insists “God can help you, every man in your position has turned to him,” (116). Society appears to constantly bring in meaning toward every aspect of life. They consider bringing in a priest so before one dies, they could realize the importance of their existence. Normally people want to seek god to rid their sins before dying. However, Christianity is just another rational belief in attempt to find meaning and order in life by basing it on God’s creation. Truthful to his beliefs and atheism, Meursault refuses to allow the father have religious authority over him because he believes that life is meaningless. Living was pointless for “we were all condemned to die” (117). It appears illogical to believe in God when God takes away life. If one is to believe in god, their only applying a fake proof into why certain rational events occur when most of the time; it’s just the way it is and there is no meaning.
The father questions why Meursault does not call him “father.” Meursault actually takes calling him father quite literally because he thinks father as calling him his real father when the priest meant to call him in a holy way and giving him stature. However, Meursault can only derive the literal meaning of father because of his irrationality. Most importantly, the priest has the ability to question Meursault’s beliefs as he pops questions concerning faith, “Have you no hope at all? And do you really live with the thought that when you die, you die, and nothing remains?” (117). As much as Meursault didn’t like it, the priest achieved power and authority over him by making Meursault think and reflect upon himself, igniting the first fire and an outburst of emotions.
Throughout the novel, Meursault believed that life by existentialism had no meaning or purpose. Without any concern or regards to finding a rational structure, his life was pretty much predetermined not only by fate but by those who afflicted his voice: the jury, lawyer, prosecutor, and the priest. Other people have more power and influence on his life that he did and that was what created the absurdity in the novel. It is not until the end when he’s in jail that Meursault grasps onto his life. Although humans have unchangeable destined fates, he realizes that he can control his emotions. Whether to morn and scream for help or to live the last day of his life like treasure was now his preference and his control. If Meursault had never realized his faults and gained an understanding of his absurd world, he wouldn’t have been able to experience a fulfilling happiness.
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