"I couldn't care less": Meursault as an Absurd Hero

Albert Camus' The Stranger is widely considered a classic work of existentialist philosophy. It explores themes such as existentialism, nihilism and the absurdity of life. This article will focus on the absurd elements present in Camus' novel and discuss its relevance to existentialist thought.

The Stranger is narrated by Meursault, a man who seemingly lacks emotion and seems indifferent to the world around him. At the start of the novel, his mother passes away at the beginning and he attends her funeral without showing any sadness or grief. As events progress throughout the narrative however, Meursault becomes embroiled in events which ultimately lead him to commit murder and be sentenced to death.

One of the most famous and striking aspects of The Stranger is Meursault's indifference towards life. He sees it as meaningless and absurd, questioning why humans exist at all. One example is his lack of emotion when his mother died - "Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know." This statement immediately conveys Meursault's attitude towards death and gives us a sense of its absurdity.

Meursault's emotional detachment and lack of concern are evident throughout the novel, as he appears to be indifferent towards everything, including his own fate. When asked if there might be any chance for pardoning his death sentence, Meursault replies "To tell the truth, I couldn't care less." This nihilistic outlook towards life is at the core of existentialist philosophy which holds that there is no inherent meaning in existence and individuals must create meaning for themselves.

The novel also contains several absurd elements that further emphasize the absurdity of life. For instance, Meursault's trial is focused not on his murder but rather his lack of emotion and failure to adhere to social norms. When asked if he regrets his actions, which were unavoidable given his circumstances, the judge tells him his moral blindness makes him a danger to society rather than looking into the actual offense Meursault committed.

Camus utilizes absurd elements to emphasize the meaninglessness of human existence and attempt to assign a greater purpose to life. As such, The Stranger becomes an ambassador for existentialist philosophy as it explores themes such as individualism, freedom, and responsibility. Meursault's realization that life is meaningless and indifferent serves as a call to question one's own beliefs and outlook on things.

The Stranger is a novel that delves into the absurdities of life and human condition. Through Meursault's detached attitude and emotional indifference, it underscores an existentialist attitude toward life that underpins this philosophy. Furthermore, its absurd elements further emphasize how futile it is to attempt to assign greater purpose to our existence. Ultimately, The Stranger serves as an emissary for existentialist thought by prompting readers to question their own existence and beliefs. Ultimately, it shows us that life is what we make of it, and ultimately it's up to each individual to find meaning within themselves.