The Stranger by Albert Camus - Man or Monster? :: The Stranger The Outsider

Man or Monster in Camus The Stranger (The Outsider) In Albert Camus absurdist novel, The Stranger, Meursaults detachment from society and his killing of the Arab reveal moral and ethical implications for him and his society. As is common in many absurdist novels, Camus discusses the estrangement - and later development - of an individual(a) in a benign and indifferent universe, one in which abidance prevails. Camus not only satirizes the conformity of society, further religion and the legal constitution as well. By writing in the first person (from the standstill of Meursault), he draws in the reader, making the evils of society more prevalent.The conflict is found at the end of Part I, when Meursault kills an Arab an action not uncommon in Algiers during this period of social unrest (the 1930s). He does not do it intentionally, but rather because of the intensity of the moment and the blinding sunlight reflecting off of the Arabs blade. The fact that Meursault kills an Arab is of little importance in this novel. The jury and the general community despise him because he is different, not because of the murder. Even Meursaults lawyer predicts that the penalisation will be minimal. Throughout the entire trial, the prosecution stresses Meursaults action style and his indifference to everything. They bring up his mothers funeral and say that he showed no signs of emotion. To make things worse, he went to a Fernandel comedy and had sex with Marie on the very next day. The prosecutor once states, ...all I see is a monster.It is true that Meursault was different from the rest of society. However, he changes throughout the trial and eventually becomes an existentialist hero. This is because he finds meaning in life. It is ironic, though, that he learns to appreciate life by and by his is effectively over. His apathetic approach to life is made pass water from the first page Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I dont know. This foreshadows his approach to everything else in the carry. His indifference to Mamans death contrasts significantly to Salamanos distress at losing his dog. Many of the characters in this book also function to highlight his qualities through contrast.At the end of the book, after coming to a realization, Meursault does not want to die and for the first time, he shows emotion. He shakes and screams at the chaplain and says, It was the first time in my life I wanted to kiss a man, when Celeste speaks up for him at the trial.