The Characterization Of Meursault In The Stranger

In Albert Camus’s work of literature The Stranger, the characterization of Meursault plays and valuable role in outlining the meaning of this novel. Meursault is the main character in this book and the story follows a part of his life form his first person point of view. Meursault, like the author, does not believe in God, or any religion for that matter. Throughout this story it is revealed that meursault lives a highly indifferent life, and physical impulses such as sex and smoking make him happy. Meursault is tried for the murder of an Arab, but the court case is unusual in the fact that it is based on evidence and character witnesses. Because Meursault finds no value or meaning in life it brings questions of moral into his†¦show more content†¦This show how death was meaningless to him and he had no respect for the fact that his mother had just passed away. Religion is the next aspect that describes Meursault as an individual, or lack of religion. Like I s tated earlier, Meursault had no belief or values in his life. The Stranger was written during the existentialist movement by an author who was very active in this shift of thinking. We can very clearly see the authors viewpoints through the development of his main character Meursault. Because Meursault did not believe in God or have any faith in his life it shaped his convictions. In part two of the novel, he is put on trial for murder and his lawyer is talking to his about God. On page 68 the lawyer talks about his faith to Meursault, â€Å"... Speaking very quickly and passionately, he told me that he believed in God, that it was his conviction that no man was so quality that Gody would not forgive him...† After he told Meursault this he asked him if he believed and Meursault stated ‘no.’ He tried to get Meursault to repent but Meursault simply did not belive and refused. This gives the reader major insight into Meursaults way of thinking and his percept ion of the world. After several attempts to get Meursault to believe the lawyer stated, â€Å"I have never seen a soul as hardened as yours (Camus 69).† This just sums up thatShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book The Stranger 1191 Words   |  5 PagesThe Characterization of Meursault in The Stranger In The Stranger, the author Albert Camus, initially portrays Meursault as a monotonous character lacking emotions toward the events surrounding his life. Meursault reflects indifference at the thought of his girlfriend s proposal in addition to not demonstrating empathy in relation to Raymond s abusive actions toward his girlfriend. Even so, Meursault s character gradually develops from a detached individual to a dynamic person as secondary charactersRead MoreMeursault Is An Absurdism1499 Words   |  6 Pagessurrounding society. The Stranger, a translated novella by Albert Camus, takes place in the early 1940s and revolves around Meursault, a French Algerian. Developed through a presentation of his own thoughts, it grows clear that Meursault is an absurdist. He believes that his actions lack significance, refuses to analyze himself beyond his physical needs, and does not find logical meaning within the surrounding world. As a result of these components of his character, Meursault repeatedly fails to adoptRead MoreThe Stranger, My Understanding Of The Culture And Absurdist Perspective1287 Words   |  6 PagesGabriela Meza December 5th, 2016 The Stranger Reflective Statement Through our class discussion on Camus’ The Stranger, my understanding of the culture and absurdist perspective of this book was furthered amplified. During our dialogue we discussed the French existentialist movement occurring in the 1940’s and how this directly influenced both Camus’ The Stranger and his essay on Sisyphus about absurdism. It was important to note the culture and setting in which Camus wrote this novel to furtherRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Stranger 1249 Words   |  5 Pagesdivine beauty and strength. In the poem Ah! Sunflower by William Blake for example, the sun represents joy and life. In the novel The Stranger, the author Albert Camus uses the sun in the opposite manner, making it serve as a negative motif throughout the novel. Conversely, Camus uses the sea as a motif to represent the positive and pleasurable feelings that Meursault actually wants to feel. The motifs of the sun and sea serves as representations of Meursault’s absurdist behaviors. Absurdism is theRead MoreUncertainty in Heart of Darkness and The Stranger Essay897 Words   |  4 PagesThe Stranger, Albert Camus establishes uncertainty to diffuse the tension surrounding Meursault while in Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad creates uncertainty to intensify the tension around Marlow. Both authors use a first person narrator, which limits the information the reader receives. Also both lead characters miss information though Meursault does so intentionally while Marlow does so unintentionally. Camus enforces the correlation of uncertainty and tension in The Stranger when Meursault gainsRead MoreThe Stranger By Albert Camus1488 Words   |  6 PagesThe Stranger is one of the most distinguished and literarily acclaimed novels written in the history of world literature. Esteban Hansbrough Mr.Grove IB English â€Å"The Stranger† The Stranger is one of the most distinguished and literarily acclaimed novels written in the history of world literature. This work was written by arguably the most highly regarded existentialist novelist of all time, Albert Camus and supports and almost proves what his commentary is on the meaning of lifeRead MoreA Comparison Peter Shaffers Equus and Albert Camuss The Stranger1042 Words   |  5 Pageson the presenter, but furthermore, the often insignificant nature of whom the presenter is talking about, even if the insignificance presented is accidental. Both Peter Shaffer’s Equus and Albert Camus’ The Stranger approach different ways in presenting the truths of Alan Strang and Meursault to the audience/jury, but one thing remains clear; intentional or unintentional manipulation of these characters leads to the eternal distrust of the reliability of their presenters, Martin Dysart and the membersRead MoreThe Stranger By John Camus1262 Words   |  6 PagesDeath, a s an integral part of life, should be accepted and respected. However, in The Stranger, Meursault views death almost joyously, going through life without care or consideration, as death to him is nothing but inevitable. His opinion on death creates his identity, his own personality mirroring the carefree opinion of death that he holds. Throughout The Stranger, Camus employs symbolism of Meursault’s surroundings to convey the absurdity of life that is central to Meursault’s identity, causingRead MoreJudgment in Peter Shaffers Equus and Albert Camus The Stranger1160 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal judgment in Peter Shaffer’s Equus and Albert Camus’ The Stranger, though internal in the first and external in the latter, mirrors society’s judgment of those who differ from the norm. The two postmodernist authors both use judgment as a tool to promote the postmodern idea that society oppresses and criticizes people who are not like everyone else. Camus an d Shaffer place specific motifs and elements into their novels in order to push the idea of societal judgment on the reader. HoweverRead MoreCrime and Punishment vs. The Stranger1438 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the novels Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky and The Stranger by Albert Camus, sun, heat, and light play a significant role in the development and understanding of the novel and the characters in it. Upon the initial reading of The Stranger, the reader may have a general acknowledgment of a relationship between the novel’s protagonist, Mersault, and the sun and heat, either proceeding or following one of the novels significant events. What is harder to understand on the first read