Meursault’s Development on The Stranger

When it comes to Albert Camus’ novel, The Stranger, we are given a detailed description of the central protagonist, Meursault. He is described as cold and uncaring. He is welded in a cage that restricts his emotions and makes reality meaningless to him. This is evident throughout the novel, beginning with lost expressions at Maman’s funeral. This goes even further in terms of exacting vengeance on his friend Raymond, resulting in his imprisonment. In the later chapters, he chooses to disregard moral principles and rejects new ideas from the chaplain. When Meursault pleads guilty, we see a distinct change in his demeanor, which shifts from isolation to acceptance. Even as he approaches death, he begins to develop a sense of hope and accepts this new change in his life, displaying happiness.

One thought on “Meursault’s Development on The Stranger

  1. Cate R

    I also agree that there was. shift at the end of the story in Mersault. To me, even the fact that he states, “I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate”, shows that he doesn’t want to be alone anymore and he wants people to be present with him while he dies. This illustrates an emotion we have not seen in Mersault before.

    Like

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