Essay about Absurdism in The Stranger by Albert Camus

The Stranger by Albert Camus focuses largely on the concept of absurdism. Camus uses family and personal relationships, or the lack of it thereof, to show the isolation that the main character, Meursault, undergoes in the novel and it’s effect on him overall. Camus utilizes the protagonists’ character development as a tool to further his plot of the novel. The absence of family and personal relationships tied in with the particular recurring topics of the novel are crucial in both the development of the protagonists’ characters as well as the plot as it affects the portrayal of the main character. Towards the beginning, Camus introduces the absence of family, thereby beginning the character development of the protagonists in their†¦show more content†¦This excerpt from the novel shows his overall attitude towards the death of his mother, not wanting to see her for the last time before she is gone forever, which leads the reader to question the personalit y of this man. With the death of Ramone’s dog, Meursault â€Å"realized [Ramone] was crying† which in turn led him to â€Å"[think] of Mama†. However, he overcomes this thought by telling himself that â€Å"[he] had to get up early the next morning† and therefore â€Å"[he} went to bed without any dinner†. Camus incorporates the death of Ramone’s dog in order to once again display the strong contrast between Ramone’s reaction to his dog’s death compared to Meursault’s reaction to his mother’s death. Ramone is mourning over a member such as his dog passing away, and on ther other hand Meursault is indifferent towards the death of his mother. This greatly works in the development of the plot of the novel throughout the novel as he is indifferent towards other aspects of society as well and is condemned for his attitude towards his mother when he is put through trial. Keeping this in mind is essential in the understa nding of some ideas presented later on in the novel. Furthermore, Camus uses family and personal relationships as a way to develop the protagonists’ isolation in the novel, working in providing context for the developing plot. In The Stranger, the author uses this methodologyShow MoreRelatedAbsurdism In The Stranger, By Albert Camus983 Words   |  4 Pages The novel The Stranger written by The French author Albert Camus was published in 1942. The author wrote about what he felt and his views on the world and society. He had very unconventional ideas about morality and believed that life has no rational meaning. These ideas and thoughts are what make this book absurd and very eccentric. Camus philosophy led to what was later known as Absurdism. Absurdism is the need to look for a meaning to life and their inability to find one In theRead MoreDefinition Of Absurdism In The Stranger By Albert Camus1490 Words   |  6 Pagesdefinition of absurdism is stated on Merriam-Webster dictionary as the â€Å"philosophy theory about the belief that the universe is irrational and meaningless, the search for order brings the individual into conflict with the universe† ( Merriam Webster). The absurdist philosopher Albert Camus once supported the philosophical belief by saying an individuals should embrace the absurd condition of human existence while also defiantly continuing to explore and search for meaning (Albert Camus). Camus is knownRead MoreThe Topic of Defiance of Societal Rules in The Stranger Through Absurdism1018 Words   |  5 PagesThe Stranger by Albert Camus there is a prevalence of characters breaking societal rules, but as a result these characters face the consequences. 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