The Stranger Paper
Throughout The Stranger there is a central theme of a meaningful human life through the
philosophies of existentialism. Existentialism is defined as “A philosophical movement
embracing the view that the suffering individual must create meaning in an unknowable, chaotic,
and seemingly empty universe” (VanSpanckeren). Through the notions of existentialism, how
one faces death indicates if one’s life truly had significance. To exist through the philosophies of
existentialism, one must have meaning in their life. The concept of death is one that every
human must eventually come to terms with. The only truth in life one may be completely sure of
is that death is inevitable. Facing death is a thought that people hold off until it becomes
relatively close. Throughout the novel, Meursault lives a life that defines him as non-existent
according to existentialism, but in the end he exists. From nothingness before entering prison to
his change in feelings while in prison, the idea of death gave a reason for Meursault to eventually
exist.
There are various acts that Meursault does that indicate his non-existence. Before being
sent to prison, Meursault seems to have no sense of feeling as he takes each day like any other.
A case of Meursalt showing immunity to grief is when he attends his mother’s funeral. “It
occurred […] that Mother was now buried, and tomorrow I’d be going back to work as usual.
Really nothing in my life has changed.” (30) This illustrates that the death of his mother had no
true effect on him or his feelings as he continued on with his days like nothing ever happened.
The decisions that Meursault make do not have any true meaning. His decisions are made in a
nonchalant manner with no real thought. “At first I hardly noticed that […] So now we’re pals,
ain’t we? I kept silence and he said it again. I didn’t care one way or another but, but as he
seemed so set on it, I nodded and said, Yes,” (41) depicts his attitude in his decision upon
becoming Raymond's true friend; he just went along with it. When Marie asked him a serious
question, his response illustrates a blasé mentality with decisions in life. “Marie came that
evening and asked me if I’d marry her. I said I didn’t mind; if she was keen on it, we’d get
married.” (52) Meaningful decisions make up a person since decisions are an evocative act that
ultimately creates one’s existence. Significant acts do not occur with Meursault prior to jail, but
once there, his outlook and mind-set begin to change which will eventually lead to his existence.
When in prison, Meursault gradually changes his views and feelings on life. Being sent
to jail and on trial for killing an Arab by shooting him five times gave Meursault time to think
and reflect on things he missed and wanted. “The lack of cigarettes, too, was a trial,” (97)
indicates that he was going through punishment. Punishment is an ordeal that gave him a feeling
of suffering badly the first few days. “I even tore off splinters from my plank bed and sucked
them” (97) illustrates his struggle. His meaningful act then and there was replacing something
he enjoyed which was smoking cigarettes. Feeling and anxiety are emotions that Meursault did
not feel prior to being in jail. Realization and understanding of events induce a meaning in one’s
life. For example when Meursault says, “It was then I felt a sort of wave […] and for the first
time I understood that I was guilty” (112) indicates his progress towards ultimately existing.
Meursault’s transition from having no existence with his life to encompassing the
meaning of existence through existentialism finally occurs when he is confronted with the death
sentence. His realization of the end did not only occur when the judge sentenced him, but even
earlier on when he realized his cell is going to be his last home. “The change came soon after
Marie’s first and only visit. […] it was from that day I realized that this cell was my last home, a
dead end so to speak.” (89) Gradually approaching death, how he confronts it is what defines
him and in time brings meaning to his life. If Meursault viewed his death sentence as pointless
similar to how he answered questions by Marie and Raymond, Meursault would never derive
that full sense in his life justifying his existence. With the numerous feelings Meursault goes
through, it shows that his acceptance is at hand. “And then a rush of memories went through my
mind – memories of a life which was mine no longer and had once provided me with the
humblest pleasures: warm smells of summer, […] and her laugh.” (132) depicts the feelings
Meursault dwells upon. To find true meaning in his life, Meursault has to find a way to fight
oncoming death. This means he has to find some significance to his death and cause it to have
some type of impact rather than just taking death as is. If Meursault took death as is, he would
ultimately have no importance to his life, thus not existing. Meursault does exist since he cares
about how his sentencing will be scrutinized. When he says, “And I decided that, if ever I got
out of jail, I’d attend every execution that took place” (138) shows that he has some sort of goal.
He also cares about how he will be received on his death sentencing day: “all that remained to
hope was that on the day of my execution there should be a huge crowd of spectators and that
they should greet me with howls of execration” (154). To care about how one’s death will affect
others provides meaning in other people’s lives as well. The action that Meursault constructs is
individuality. His individuality is manifested through the notions of his reflective feelings and
what he wants to occur at his sentencing. Through Meursault’s individuality, he attains an
ultimate meaning to his life, in the end existing.
Meursault’s life is one that entails the philosophies of existentialism. While living a life
that had no meaning at all to eventually finding one, his existence is defined through the last
meaningful acts he does. Once in prison, Meursult has to dwell upon the new setting he is placed
into. From dealing with punishment to realization and understanding, Meursault dictates
progress to finding a meaningful act that would justify his existence through existentialism.
Confrontation with death brings Meursault to finally bring meaning to his life. His response to
death is what defines his ultimate existence. Having goals and desires if death could be avoided
and, if death was inevitable, stimulate the essential existence to his life.
Works Cited
Vanspanckeren, Kathryn. "An Outline of American Literature." From Revolution to
Reconstruction: Outlines: Outline of American Literature. 28 Dec. 2006. 2 Oct. 2007
<An Outline of American Literature>.
Bibliography
Banach, David. "Summary of Some Main Points From Sartre's Existentialism and Human
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<http://www.anselm.edu/homepage/dbanach/sartreol.htm>.
"Existentialism." Existentialism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). 24 Aug. 2004. 3 Oct.
2007 <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/>.