The Character of Meursault in The Stranger (The Outsider) :: Camus Stranger Essays

The Character of Meursault in The queer     Albert Camus wrote The Stranger during the Existentialist movement, which explains why the main character in the novel, Meursault, is characterized as uncaring and emotionless, two of the aspects of existentialism. In Meursault, Camus creates a character he intends his referees to relate to, because he creates characters placed in realistic situations. He wants the reader to form a changing, ambiguous opinion of Meursault. From what Meursault narrates to the reader in the novel, the reader can guess why he look fors to find order and understanding in a confused and mystifying world.   Camus writes in a simple, direct, and uncomplicated style. The choice of diction serves well to convey the thoughts of Meursault. The story is told in the low gear person and traces the tuition of the narrators attitude toward himself and the rest of the world. Through this sort of simple grammatical structure, Camus gives th e reader the opportunity to become part of the aw arness of Meursault. In Part I, what Meursault decides to pertain are just concrete facts. He describes objects and people, but wanton aways no attempt to analyze them. Since he makes no effort to analyze things around him, that work is given to the reader. The reader therefore creates his own meaning for Meursaults actions. When he is squeeze to confront his past and reflect on his experiences, he attempts to understand the reasons for existence. At first, Meursault makes references to his inability to understand whats happening around him, but often what he tells us seems the result of his own indifference or detachment. He is a great deal inattentive to his surroundings. His mind wanders in the middle of conversations. Rarely does he make judgments or express opinions about what he or other characters are doing. Meursault walks through life largely unaware of the effect of his actions on others.   Meursault i s distant from set plans, ambitions, desires, love, and emotions in general. He has a difficult time with emotions such(prenominal) as regret and compassion. The reader sees the nature of his personality in the first few lines of the novel Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I dont know. When he hears of the expiration of his mother through a telegram, he is unattached, and can be considered uncaring.