Women's Contribution to Meursault's Enlightenment in The Stranger

In Albert Camus’ novel The Stranger, different women can be seen as having achieved various levels of enlightenment when compared to the final, ‘complete’ enlightenment Meursault achieves at the end of the novel. In the end, Meursault embraces life's inherent meaningless and discovers a personal form of humanism through finally feeling he is a connected part of the world with those around him all being in the same boat as he is, embracing their hatred of him and his indifference realizing he hates it as well, and shedding his loneliness as ‘the stranger’. Maman appears to be enlightened as well, she likely went through the same process at some point. Maman had the wisdom to live a full life, making lifelong friends, as demonstrated by Thomas Perez’s resolve to pay his respects at her funeral, and taking another finance to start anew, even nearing end of her life, feeling “free then and ready to live again” (123). as Meursault understands. Marie, on the other hand, is assumed to not achieve enlightenment, since she still holds out hope and looks for meaning where there is none, with her “pained smile” (67). visiting him in prison and sadness at Meursault's indifference towards marriage. Marie never recognizes and accepts or comes to terms with the indifference of the world as Meursault or as maman appears to, and so Marie does not achieve enlightenment, and fades out of importance by the end.

Both of these women contributed to Meursault's enlightenment on some level. Maman is one of the few people in the novel who seemed happy to Meursault. The funeral attendees loyalty and grief at Maman's passing and her vivacity later in life convey to Meursault it is possible to live a joyful, happy, meaningful-filled life. Meursault simply does not really recognize or understand how living a life like Maman's was possible until his final epiphany, where Maman’s life would serve as model for experiences Meursault would hope to achieve if he were to have a chance.

Marie, on the other hand, despite appearing happy, independent, and carefree on the surface, is unsatisfied with Meursault's persistent indifference towards her beyond superficially enjoying her company and their sexual encounters. Meursault is willing to get married if Marie wants to, but telling her “no” (31). when asked if he loves her. Meursault states it “didn't really matter one way or another" (31). Marie is devoted to Meursault nonetheless, and this devotion, and her resolve to “remain hopeful” (55). Only keeps her unhappy. Visiting him in the face of her execution, looking for justice and meaning where there is none, is indicative of Marie being stuck in the same unenlightened rut Meursault is but a different way, still seeking out inherent meaning and justice in an insouciant world in order to achieve fulfillment, happiness, and understanding, never finding any. Marie is no help to Meursault, because he already knows there is no inherent point, purpose, or justice, and thus no meaning in the world. Meursault already has come to this conclusion, and yet is discontent. This is why Marie faded out of Meursault’s focus by the end of his time in prison, nearing his final realization, Marie offered Meursault no answers in his search for 'enlightenment.'

Surprisingly, despite all these women being central to the plot narrative, it is an extremely minor character, unenlightened in a different way through her contented ignorance, the ‘Robot Woman’ who serves to help enlighten Meursault more than any of the other frequently mentioned women in the novel. This unnamed woman is critical to Meursault's discovery of his joyfully nihilistic philosophy by demonstrating to Meursault how meaningless life appears, how enamoured people are with routine, and mainly, how content, yet unhappy, the woman is with that fact, causing Meursault to see some of himself in her. The Robot Woman does this in two ways, one, making Meursault realize the extremes of conformity without any ‘real’ ‘meaningful’ cause in society, and two, recognize these tendencies in himself, and these realizations are what ultimately cause Meursault's enlightenment.

When Meursault first encounters the Woman at the cafe, she is a meticulous square. “Her gestures were jerky. She took off her jacket, sat down, and studied the menu feverishly.”(25). Then she “ordered her meal all at once, in a voice that was very clear and very fast at the same time. While she was waiting for her first course, she opened her bag, took out a slip of paper and a pencil, added up the bill in advance, then took the exact amount, plus tip, out of a vest pocket and set it on the table.”(25). She spends the meal checking off radio programs and then leaves with the same “robot like movements”(26). Meursault is so fascinated he follows her briefly, noticing her “incredible speed and assurance” thinking about “how peculiar she was” (44). Meursault is interested in this woman because of her apparent ignorant assuredness in the world, but also her extremely rigid routine. The woman doesn't appear happy or content, just busy. She also seems incredibly isolated and alone. This serves to show Meursault an extreme example of the ridiculous conformity within society, a woman who has not achieved any sense of purpose or joy, but is living out her purposeless, dull life anyways, much like Meursault at the moment.At the trial, the “little robot woman from the cafe”(87). stares at him. Almost like a female version of Meursault, she is emotionless, an observer, another stranger like him, almost like a reflection of him. While Meursault is sweating, the woman simply callously, but in a curious, interested way, stares at him, much like Meursault has observed and understood others emotions, such as Raymond's anger at his girlfriend, rather indifferently. The Robot woman is all Meursault can think about in the back of his mind at the trial, making him even more defenseless and at least partially leading to his conviction, and thus, his imprisonment, and later enlightenment. When Meursault finally has his enlightening epiphany and snaps at the priest, it is likely the Robot Woman had an effect on him which produced this. Meursault did not want to become like the woman, cold, robotic, occupied yet passive, living life without ever having found happiness, meaning, joy, or purpose, but living nonetheless, a fate he couldn't bear for himself in the future, having contributed nothing to anyone, living his entire life this way, then dying alone with nobody he really cared for or who meant anything to him at all in his life even in a meaningless world. Unlike Maman, no one Meursault cared for would attend the funeral.

Meursault eventually recognizes and accepts his similarity to the Robot Woman, and that recognition is the crucial wakeup call, finally leaving Meursault with his epiphany. Life is ostentatiously meaningless beyond ourselves, but we should not be so uncaring we passively proceed through life doing as we believe we feel instructed to, having found no enlightenment and accepting this fact. The universe may fundamentally be meaningless, but we should not act as if our actions are just as meaningless. Living as if our actions are meaningless yet necessary only because of practicality or baseless routine leaves us functional, but unhappy and alone. Somewhat paradoxically, Meursault decides one should find their own meaning in their own actions. Without the Robot Woman’s ‘help,’ Meursault would have never understood the axioms which fundamentally contribute to his final enlightenment.