Existentialism in "The Stranger"

Existentialism in The Stranger


The Stranger is a 1942 novel by French-Algerian author and philosopher Albert Camus. The novel centers on Mersault, a young man whose mother has recently passed away, and begins with Mersault attending his mother’s funeral. The Stranger focuses on Mersault’s detachment and difference from the rest of society, hence the title. The Stranger is a novel that through the central character of Mersault, illustrates Camus’s beliefs in existentialism.


During Mersault’s mother's funeral he does not cry. In fact, when asked if he wanted to see his mother’s face in an open casket, and asked why he simply responds “I don’t know.” Through this, Mersault acts out of his own accord, not bound by the rules which society has laid in how to react to a death. Though one would expect a son at his dead mother’s funeral to be miserable, Mersault seems to be indifferent and even numb to the fact of his mother’s death. Mersault’s actions in this scene can be exemplified by the common Existentialist saying, “Existence precedes essence.” A key belief of existentialism is that there is nothing inherent to human beings in terms of behavior. Similarly, there is no pattern of behavior that Mersault must conform to. Although we might view a son expressionless at his mother’s funeral as unnatural or even shocking, in existentialist view, both responses are equal in rationality. Later in the novel, Mersault’s girlfriend Marie asks her to marry him. Although society values marriage a large amount, Mersault is indifferent about Marie’s proposal. “That evening Marie came by to see me and asked me if I wanted to marry her. I said it didn't make any difference to me and that we could if she wanted to… Then she pointed out that marriage was a serious thing. I said, ‘No.’ … She just wanted to know if I would have accepted the same proposal from another woman, with whom I was involved in the same way. I said, ‘Sure.’” (41-42) Mersault holds views completely different from those of society as a whole, and is admirable in the fact that he is so straightforward with his opinions, and even tells his girlfriend that he would accept a marriage proposal from anyone.


In the novel, Mersault begins to hang out with a pimp named Raymond. At one point in the novel, Raymond beats his mistress who he suspects is cheating on him, and Mersault overhears. Mersault, even though most would agree that beating your girlfriend is bad, agrees to testify as a witness on Raymond’s behalf to keep him out of trouble. This serves as another example that he is not bound to the same morals that most people hold, as most would recognize Raymond’s actions as wrong.


This Section Contains Minor Spoilers for the Book


About halfway through the book, Raymond, Mersault, and Marie and a friend go to the beach. Later on that same day, Raymond and Mersault are walking together when they encounter a group of Arabs including Raymond’s mistress’s brother. Raymond is cut in the face by a knife and sent to the hospital. Raymond plans to return to the beach with a gun to get revenge, but Mersault takes Raymond’s gun on a walk by himself. While on the beach he encounters Raymond’s mistress’s brother again. Mersault shoots at the Arab, killing him.


This Section Contains Major Spoilers for the Book


During his trial, Mersault is antagonized and deemed a threat to society because of how his beliefs do not align with those of society. Everyone is disgusted with Mersault for not crying during his mother’s funeral, and the judge is appalled at Mersault’s atheism. Mersault is sentenced to death. Even in his final days, Mersault refuses the notion of God’s existence, and believes that nothing he did truly mattered, coming to accept the actions he made throughout his life despite the negative consequences. Accepting your actions is an essential part of Existentialism. Existentialism believes in free will and the idea that with your freedom to do as you please, you must also be responsible to face the consequences for the choices you made.


Conclusion, No More Spoilers


Overall, II would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good short read with an interesting plot, and who wants to learn more about existentialism, as the book does an entertaining job of explaining existentialist beliefs.