Why Meursault is Different?

Requirement

Question: Why Meursault is Different

Solution

The character of the central protagonist in Camus’ novel is an intriguing one. It should be noted that though he confesses before the magistrate that he loved his mother like everyone else, he is not a character to be equated to everyone else. It is noteworthy that Meursault is not like everyone else. Being a psychologically detached individual, Meursault is different from other individuals. Certain events of life like marriage proposal or a parent’s death do not affect Meursault in any way and this adds to his uniqueness of character. He is not at all moved by the fact that his mother is dead or that Marie loves him. He is an honest person but his level of honesty is beyond the reach of the common mass. As an individual, Meursault honesty should be considered stringent and it is due to such honest disposition that he does not think it right to resort to lie in order to save himself. 

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Meursault is not like anybody and this is evident from the fact that he is indifferent to social norms and customs, and that is one reason why he could be considered as a deviant character in the novel. His mother is dead but he does not have the emotion or urge to shed tear on his mother’s death. Such an act makes him quite an outsider to the normal members of the society who now consider him as an alien who does not actually belong to the human society. It should be taken into account that the central protagonist in Camus’ novel is also the narrator of the absurdist adventures. He is a simple man whose moods are thoroughly dictated by the power of Nature (SparkNotes LLC). He is thoroughly independent and disastrously self-sufficient. Such self-sufficiency has triggered the urge of becoming atheist in him. And that is a truth (as described in the novel) that Meursault is an atheist. It is such outlook towards religion which again makes Meursault a stranger to the mainstream society. He is hence, an outsider. 
It should be noted that Meursault is so terribly truthful that he is unwilling to shed false tears at her mother’s death. He is unable to grief, and it is such incapability of Meursault which triggers apathy on the part of others towards Meursault. Quite justifiably it can be said that Meursault is not like anyone else and this is also because of the fact that, in the novel, he has been depicted as an individual who is neither moral nor immoral but amoral – “he simply does not make the distinction between good and bad in his own mind” (SparkNotes LLC). He is a person who is devoid of the willingness to indulge in judgments having face value. He is a highly rational being who does not find anything inglorious or immoral to write a letter to Raymond’s mistress when dictated by Raymond because he had the time to devote in such act. It should be noted that Meursault “does not palce any value judgment on his act, and writes the letter mainly because he has the time and the ability to do so” (SparkNotes LLC). It is such a straightforward approach that makes him different, makes him a stranger and makes him an outsider. 
Moreover, quite interestingly it should be noted that the protagonist in Camus’ is not only indifferent to the society and its norm but he is also indifferent to himself. His thought process has been broadened by his sentencing to death and after his encounter with the chaplain Meursault concludes that “the universe is, like him, totally indifferent to human life. He decides that people’s lives have no grand meaning or importance, and that their actions, their comings and goings, have no effect on the world” (SparkNotes LLC,). Such a blatant realization is the culmination of all that happens in the novel. Furthermore, it must be noted that being a different kind of human being and being a different kind of individual, Meursault is not only alienated but also forsaken. His gentle indifference of the world makes him enjoy the peace of mind and it is such indifference which should be considered as a nature that is ingrained in his character, making him solely individualistic in character. 
Furthermore, Meursault is different from others from the perspective of humanity. Sometimes he seems to be inhuman. When he sends his mother to an old folk’s home, he feels no remorse, and also, he does not feel that it is right to demarcate love from lust. For him love and lust are equal. And all such traits not only make him a stranger to the society but an outsider as well. It should be taken into account that Meursault is different from others primarily due to his indifference to himself and the society. He is constituted of contradictions. And this can be claimed by citing the fact that, “Far from insensitive, he is attentive to the smallest details. Far from nonchalant, he adamantly refuses to believe in life after death, to seek God out to escape execution, to mask his calmness about or acceptance of death” (Shmoop). Quite interestingly, he is a character who, unlike others, is grossly misunderstood and this misunderstanding again demarcates him from others. 
In conclusion, the character of the central protagonist in Camus’ novel is an intriguing one. It should be noted that though he confesses before the magistrate that he loved his mother like everyone else, he is not a character to be equated to everyone else. Meursault is not like anybody and this is evident from the fact that he is indifferent to social norms and customs, and that is one reason why he could be considered as a deviant character in the novel. His mother is dead but he does not have the emotion or urge to shed tear on his mother’s death. Such an act makes him quite an outsider to the normal members of the society who now consider him as an alien who does not actually belong to the human society. Moreover, quite interestingly it should be noted that the protagonist in Camus’ is not only indifferent to the society and its norm but he is also indifferent to himself. His thought process has been broadened by his sentencing to death (Edelman et al, 2018).

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Works Cited

  • Edelman, C.L. et al. Health Promotion Throughout The Life Span. 8th ed., 2018,.

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