“The Stranger” Analysis Paper Essay Sample
The Stranger” is a short story by Albert Camus that was written in 1942. The story explores the life of Meursault, an apathetic man who lives his days with no regard for others and does not understand why people are always trying to make him happy. This essay sample will explore how this short story can also be read as a commentary on society’s need to judge others based on their actions without understanding their reasons for behaving the way they do which is highlighted through Meursault’s behaviors throughout the course of this book.
Essay Example on “The Stranger” Analysis Paper
Thesis Statement of “The Stranger” Analysis Paper
“The Stranger” by Albert Camus is a short novel which explores the idea of living an ethical life as opposed to just merely following society’s codes and laws.
Introduction – “The Stranger” Analysis Paper
“The Stranger” is a paper on English literature. The essay in context discusses this English literary work by doing an analysis. Before, analyzing the literary work it is important to understand what “The Stranger” is all about. In fact “The Stranger” is a piece of literature that discusses the absurdity of life as observed by Camus.
It also discusses the experiences of Meursault who is the protagonist of the story. The protagonist of the story Meursault helps the readers to understand that the significance of life is in the experiences that are associated with it.
According to the novel “The Stranger,” the protagonist is portrayed as an absurd hero. The protagonist of the story is shown thinking in an illogical and frustrating manner. Albert Camus while writing the novel depicted the protagonist of the story as an existentialist. The author with the aid of this write-up demonstrated that life is meaningless and absurd.
Main Essay Body – “The Stranger” Analysis Paper
Why Meursault’s personality is existential?
The novel “The Stranger” describes various of Meursault’s situations like those that lack emotions. The author emphasizes that Meursault only thought about the physical aspects of various situations and that justifies that the protagonist has an existential personality. From the novel content, the author tried to highlight that the protagonist disregarded the death of his mother and focused primarily on the trivial and unimportant aspects. All these reveal clearly that Meursault has an existential personality.
In another situation that is described in the novel is when Meursault is being tried for the murder of an Arab man. As the trial was taking place Meursault was observed focusing on very trivial and irrelevant things like lawyer’s tie. This depicted that the protagonist was not at all serious. The situation also highlighted that the protagonist tried to trivialize the gravity of the situation. This is yet another instance that illustrated the existential personality of the protagonist.
The novel “The Stranger” discusses Meursault’s viewpoint of life. It says that things occur because they are destined to happen and that these things cannot be controlled by anybody, not even him. The novel discusses yet another instance when the protagonist of the story has displayed his existential personality.
When Meursault joined the office after a short leave then his boss asked him about his mother’s age. At that time Meursault responded in a manner that may appear to an observer that he did not know the age of his mother. The fact that he did not know the age of his mother depicted that Meursault’s personality is existential.
How were others in the novel got affected by Meursault’s personality?
This essay highlighted how Meursault’s personality is existential. It also highlighted how others got adversely affected by his personality. According to the contents mentioned in the novel, it is clear that the protagonist’s emotional detachment throughout the entire novel frustrates various characters that come in contact with him. These characters struggle with Meursault throughout the entire novel.
As an example, the novel highlighted the protagonist’s girlfriend (Marie) suffered throughout the novel. In this novel, it is described that the protagonist did not fall in love with Marie yet decided to marry her because Marie wanted to marry Meursault.
Since the protagonist did not have love or feelings for her and yet decided to marry his girlfriend shows that he attaches very little value to his own life. This novel depicts that Meursault cannot engage in doing small things like love.
What are the characteristic traits of a true existentialist?
This section of the essay discusses the various characteristics that are associated with a true existentialist. A true existentialist thinks that life is worthless. A true existentialist may deal with various aspects of life and death but ultimately he remains a sufferer. A true existentialist does not believe in his fate and that death cannot be avoided.
Such a person believes that death can come sooner or later. In his life experiences, Meursault’s demonstrated that he is a non-believer in God and he also demonstrated that life meaning lies in various human experiences and not Gods. This view of Meursault is very much existential.
Similarly, Meursault had an existential view of death. He believed that death can occur sooner or later and that life is not that much worth living. As per Meursault’s view on death, people old or young are forgotten by their family and friends with their death.
Conclusion
This essay discussed how the novel “The Stranger” written by Albert Camus portrays the notion of existentialism with the aid of a character named Meursault. This essay also illustrated beautifully Meursault’s inability to sense emotions and depict them to others. “The Stranger” explores the idea of identity. It also examines how society reacts to those who are different from themselves, and what happens when they push back against this treatment.