Albert Camus, the French novelist, dramatist and essayist is described as one of the greatest philosophical writers in France. The Nobel Prize (Literature) receiver is known to have authored some of the best works of fiction, but yet comprehensively reflecting on human society. Some of Albert Camus's works include The Fall of 1957, The Plague of 1947 and The Stranger of 1942. The Stranger is accredited for setting the stage for Camus and welcoming an audience that admired his ideologies and how he presented them. Through The Stranger , Camus succinctly explores absurdity as the most compelling theme of the novel. This essay examines how the theme of absurdity is developed by the author using different approaches and tools.
The word absurdity is used to describe the futile efforts by human beings to establish rationality where it does not exist. Camus, as a philosopher, is known to have advocated the irrational meaning of human existence. Camus believes that life has no sense despite how hard human beings try to tie certain meaning to life and its concepts. The concept of absurdity emerges with the manner in which human being find it hard to accept that life is meaningless. Camus does not fail to portray absurdity in The Stranger .
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The death of Meursault’s mother is one of the events that resonate with the theme of irrationality. Meursault does not seem impacted, or even bothered, by the death of his mother. After learning of the death of his mother, Meursault seems relaxed and little bothered. His reactions are interpreted that he still thinks his mother is alive. Meursault is seemingly not in grief. He does not seem bereaved even in the mortuary or at the graveside. At one point the undertaker asks Meursault, ‘Is this your mother we are burying' (Camus, 1942, p. 11). There is no rational explanation for Meursault's reaction to the death of his mother, as well as other instances in the novel.
The theme of irrationality is evident in the manner in which Meursault interacts with reality and the meaning of life, aspects that are imposed by others into his life. Meursault is living a life of anomaly. He does not seem to derive meaning from any of the things that are defined as good, rational, or moral in society. Meursault's irrationality is depicted even in his marriage. Marie expects the character to take the institution of marriage with a considerable level of seriousness. However, Meursault only wants to marry her simply because he wants to. He thinks, ‘'I had explained that it had no importance really, but if it would give her pleasure…. The suggestion came from her, as for me, I'd merely say yes'' (p. 28). Despite marrying her and growing affections to her, Meursault does not attach any meaning to their marriage. Meursault strongly feels the same over the justice system.
The trial of Meursault over the murder of Arab portrays the heightened state of absurdity in human life. Throughout the trial, Meursault is concerned with attempts of the court to impose rationality on his life and, therefore, rendering his perspectives unworthy. In reality, the court was not passing judgment on Meursault’s actions, but rather try to change beliefs. The judge tries to impose religious thinking on the character. Meursault thinks that the conversation about God and religion are of ‘minor importance' (p. 43). By being arrogant to the judge and the justice system at large, Meursault risks the danger of death. But even in instances of life and death, Meursault shows irrationality and rejects rationality in the eyes of humankind. Through his life, he fights back the absurdity of rationality.
Based on the analysis, it is evident that the key theme of absurdity is perfectly depicted by Camus in the novel, The Stranger . Absurdity is revealed with human kind’s obsession with rationality and creating meaning. The main character is a force against rationalism and meaning in life. He thinks that life has no meaning, sentiments shared by the author. The essay explores some the literally depiction of absurdity in the novel.
References
Camus, A. (1942). The Stranger . Vintage Books.
