Jose's Post

Meursault’s meaninglessness of human life is a long lived sacrifice that opened the doors to the understanding of human existence. Throughout The Stranger, there are various scenes in which Meursault, the protagonist of the story is presented as detached from human existence. For example, at the start of the novel Meursault receives a telegram stating that his mother died. Without any remorse or regret he decides to attend the funeral not because he wanted to say his last goodbye, but because he saw it as another responsibility on his behalf. Yet, this is not the only part in the novel in which Meursault’s amoral character displays a lack of recognition for emotions and existence. After Marie proposes marriage, Meursualt’s feels indifferent to the proposal. His inability to respond in an emotional manner is a representation of his emotional and spiritual death. The only manner by which he regains vitality is by taking away the life of another man. Through the interrogation in the court room Meursault gains sense of his emotions and begins to experience the life that was once lost to rational order.