The Philosophical Viewpoint from an Outsider

American Society is constantly turning on those who are different, there are many people who show different behavior are labeled undesirables even though America are considered a democracy. In many situations, society uses propaganda to demonize others and tear people down because they are different. These outcast’s are often labeled, and because they have various perspectives and feelings they are violated and punished. In society being indifferent and not changing oneself for societies pleasure can cause society to charge you with a social death sentence, and in both of Albert Camus’ books, the protagonists are often penalized for their different ways of viewing life and are treated like they are less than human.

In The Stranger Albert Camus, the protagonist Meursault is often ostracized by society for being indifferent, his indifference is condemned by others and causes him to suffer later on. At the beginning, Meursault is informed about his mother’s funeral and does not display any emotions, raising curiosity in those who attended. He is unaffected by his mother’s death and continues to go on with his life as if nothing changed, and showed that her death had no significance to her life. Fast forwarding to when Meursault is walking on the beach alongside his close friend Raymond encountered two arabs who have afflicted Raymond in the past. Meursault later is has a gun in his hand and is contemplating whether to shoot or not shoot the Arab. Either way, he wouldn’t care because the loss of a life would have no significance to him, he wouldn’t be affected. He killed the Arab out of confusion and out of self-defense but he didn’t show any remorse or regret even though it meant that he would be going to prison and eventually be executed. In prison, he displaced characteristics that categorize him a fatalist and absurdist.

Meursault’s trial sentencing was overall unjust prior to lawful justice because it was based on his characteristics and not his actions. In court the prosecutor is constantly bring up Meursault’s actions at his mother’s funeral and Meursault’s hesitation and lack of ability to cry and show care for his mother and the murder. The warden explained to Meursault that he hadn’t “want to see Mother’s body, or shed a single tear, and that I’d left immediately the funeral ended, without lingering at her grave. Another thing had surprised him. One of the undertakers men told him that I didn’t know my mothers age… I’d declined to see mother’s body, id smoked cigarettes and slept, and drunk cafe au lait… the prosecutor turned to me again with a gloating look in his eyes”(Albert Camus "The Stranger" 56). The Judge used the Prosecutors biased evidence on Meursault and thus renders a bias verdict, whether or not he will be publicly guillotined. The Prosecutor continues and dramatically argues that Meursault is not capable of remorse and claims that he should be prosecuted for his actions. He argues “Not only did the man before you in the dock indulge in the most shameful orgies on the day following his mother’s death. He killed man cold-bloodedly, in pursuance of some sordid vendetta in the underworld of prostitutes and pimps. That gentlemen of the jury, is the type of man the prisoner is.’... ‘is my client on trial for having buried his mother, or for killing a man?’... ‘I accuse the prisoner of behaving at his mother's funeral in a way that showed he was already a criminal at heart”(Albert Camus "The Stranger" 60). Therefore, society plays a big role in determining many of peoples lives, the courtroom scene represents how society casts judgement upon those who are different.

Albert Camus focuses on the concept of Absurdism through the protagonist Meursault. Meursault lives his life knowing that he will struggle from problems that society cause. He understands that he is indifferent to society. His reactions towards his mother's death shows how he is different from many other people emotionally. Meursault was “feeling very comfortable; the coffee had warmed me up, and through the open door came scents of flowers and breaths of cool night air. I think I dozed off for a while.”(Albert Camus "The Stranger" 7). Sleeping at ones mothers funeral is one weird way mourn for isn’t it? He would rather not see his mother's face while shes dead than to see it and mourn. He understands his mother's death and knows that she has no reason for him to not continue his life regularly. It occured to Meursault that “somehow I’d got through another Sunday, that Mother now was buried, and tomorrow I’d be going back to work as usual. Really, nothing in my life has changed.”(Albert Camus "The Stranger" 17). Society will disagree with his reactions towards his mother because the death of one's mother is a traumatic situation and should be handled differently.