Why try, right?

In contrast to Camus's statement that "Mersault is the only Christ we deserve," I found the protagonist in The Stranger to represent a more of an Antichrist character, dealing with the inevitability of death. Mersault's character is incredibly indifferent towards his life. Mersault reflects Camus's existentialist beliefs, which explains much of the lack of hope for anyhting after death and emotional detachment Mersault shows when living. It is his way of dealing with life's adversity and the inevitability of death. Living indifferently saves one from much of the pain one can experience, which is what Camus may be trying to pursue through this story of The Stranger. This perspective that perhaps, "life isn't worth living," and the "when and how don't matter" is very controversial and can be dangerous because it excuses one's actions in life. Mersault reflects the very opposite of Christ, because he has no hope, and Christ is the very symbol for something more after death. Christ came to save hummanity, to give people hope, while Mersault's story does the very opposite in portraying life as meaningless.

Mersault's "insensitivity" and lack of conscience towards his actions in relation to Camus's statement reflects a very satirical comparision between two very different people. When Mersault is convicted of his crime, he feels as if "his fate [is] being decided without... his opinion." This reflects the bigger idea that one's fate cannot be controlled by one's actions on Earth- that whatever happens happens. In believing in the indifference of society is ruling out a greater power, such as that of God. It is saying essentially that there is no God, that nothing one does on Earth matters, because death is one's inevitable fate. In other words, nothing that one does in the world will change what will eventualyl happen. Camus creates Mersault's character to be an example for others to follow to survive the world, and the path he carves is much different than that of Christ's. Camus's statement mocks the character of Christ, which can be reasonable considering the existentialist beliefs of Camus. He is telling readers there is no Christ, no God that will save you. Camus believes death is the end, so why not live as Mersault did. Having hope and being emotional is a waste of energy and irrational considering one's inevitable predicament, as constant as the shining sun, which Camus references to much of the time.