The Outsider
Albert Camus, in his 1942 novel The Outsider, makes use of many techniques in an attempt to convey his themes concerning individualism, philosophy, and death; indeed, the very title of the work highlights a central theme of the novel, of society casting out those who refuse to conform.
A notable method by which Camus does so is the use of his minor characters, as reflections of or parallels to his protagonist’s actions. Meursault is often defined by his apparent lack of emotion or desire to justify his actions, which ultimately leads to his undoing; the opposite of this supposed apathy is his neighbour and friend Raymond, a man who almost compulsively rationalizes his actions every other sentence. Marie Cardona, Meursault’s girlfriend, has …show more content…
The opinions opposing this are of course the chaplain’s, who is threatened by Meursault’s atheism and is ultimately pivotal in Meursault’s philosophical and psychological changes.
Like any novel, characters in The Outsider must be considered for their use, their importance to the theme; as tools used by the author to accentuate their ideas. Camus utilizes these characters in order to outline and project that which he sees as wrong in his society.
It is immediately clear, when reading The Outsider, that Meursault very rarely – if at all – expresses emotion or provides an explanation for his actions; indeed, the famous introduction of the novel is an illustration of just this: “Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don’t know,” (page 1). Of course, Meursault continues on to state the reason for his confusion – a vaguely worded telegram – but his clarification is on but the basest level, doing no more than giving cause; there is no meaning, no reason, and this is alien to those in a society that demands justification for all …show more content…
As Lea (2005) argues, ‘Camus does not want us to think of Meursault as ‘the stranger who lives ‘outside' of his society' but of a man who is ‘the stranger within his society'.’ The differences between these definitions may seem slight, but have greatly variant meanings. Had Meursault been outside of society, his acts may have been at least excused, as a kind of foreign evil. As it were, Meursault is, while a stranger to it, a member of his society, and so ought to follow its rules, provide meaning behind his actions as it
A notable method by which Camus does so is the use of his minor characters, as reflections of or parallels to his protagonist’s actions. Meursault is often defined by his apparent lack of emotion or desire to justify his actions, which ultimately leads to his undoing; the opposite of this supposed apathy is his neighbour and friend Raymond, a man who almost compulsively rationalizes his actions every other sentence. Marie Cardona, Meursault’s girlfriend, has …show more content…
The opinions opposing this are of course the chaplain’s, who is threatened by Meursault’s atheism and is ultimately pivotal in Meursault’s philosophical and psychological changes.
Like any novel, characters in The Outsider must be considered for their use, their importance to the theme; as tools used by the author to accentuate their ideas. Camus utilizes these characters in order to outline and project that which he sees as wrong in his society.
It is immediately clear, when reading The Outsider, that Meursault very rarely – if at all – expresses emotion or provides an explanation for his actions; indeed, the famous introduction of the novel is an illustration of just this: “Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don’t know,” (page 1). Of course, Meursault continues on to state the reason for his confusion – a vaguely worded telegram – but his clarification is on but the basest level, doing no more than giving cause; there is no meaning, no reason, and this is alien to those in a society that demands justification for all …show more content…
As Lea (2005) argues, ‘Camus does not want us to think of Meursault as ‘the stranger who lives ‘outside' of his society' but of a man who is ‘the stranger within his society'.’ The differences between these definitions may seem slight, but have greatly variant meanings. Had Meursault been outside of society, his acts may have been at least excused, as a kind of foreign evil. As it were, Meursault is, while a stranger to it, a member of his society, and so ought to follow its rules, provide meaning behind his actions as it