Examining Absurdism in Camus's "The Stranger"
-
"The Stranger deals with absurdist themes."
That's definitely true. But it's easy to throw around terms without really understanding what they mean. So, let's contextualize Albert Camus's The Stranger within the broader philosophical movements of the time, and try to understand what the book is actually talking about.
First, some background. Absurdism deals with the concept that life and the universe have no meaning; they are irrational, unable to be confined within any conventional categorizations of knowledge. A number of other notable philosophies also deal with similar concepts--namely, Existentialism and Nihilism--so it's quite easy to get them mixed up.
Existentialism is an umbrella term for philosophies which underscore the human condition and individual experience. Basically, Existentialism runs with the idea that life has no meaning--at least, none that you can comprehend--so might as well make the most of it by doing what you want. Nihilism, derived from the latin term nihil (nothing), takes a similar approach to existence as Existentialism, though it's accompanied by extreme pessimism. Think about the different contexts in which you could say "in the end, nothing matters": happily knowing that your failures and embarrassments won't last forever, or realizing that your entire life is ultimately a waste of time, a wait until your inevitable death. In brief, that's Existentialism and Nihilism, respectively.
Absurdism is oddly dissimilar from both Existentialism and Nihilism, even though there are many commonalities between the three. Absurdist thinking, which was first developed by Camus--dictates that yes, life is irrational, so don't try to understand it; instead, abide by the rules of the only thing you can know with certainty: your own thoughts. There's definitely some clear Solipsism at play as well.
In The Stranger, Mersault's actions are determined by his own thoughts and opinions, never anyone else's. He never lies to benefit himself or others. He rejects collective morals and instead exclusively embraces his own. He is obsessed with the truth and staying true to his values, even if it leads to his death or estrangement from society. In this sense, Mersault is an "Absurd Man" who, in Camus's eyes, is the only fully "authentic" representation of a person. I think it's also important to note the influence of other thinkers on Camus's work. Mersault exhibits nuggets of Existentialist belief every so often, the most apparent one being when he notes that he could "either shoot or not shoot" in a direct nod to Kirkegaard or Sartre's anxiety-of-freedom Existentialism (56).
So, knowing this, what is The Stranger really about? What does Camus seek to convey through Mersault's irrational story? Simply put, The Stranger is a celebration of authenticity and staying true to oneself. As part of the French resistance effort against the Nazi occupation, Camus condemns those who conform to the expectations of society and don't act truthfully. In a time where deceit was rampant, Camus saw a pathologically honest figure like Mersault as a breath of fresh air. During a time of violence where death was lurking around the corner for everyone, why waste your time trying to reason with the unreasonable? So, while Mersault should definitely not be seen as a role-model in any case, his viewpoint brings up important questions about the state of modern society.
11/11
First of all, I love that image of Sisyphus superimposed on Camus's face! And the profile is clearly identifiable as Camus--in photos, he always looks like the protagonist of a French New Wave film by Godard or someone, with his trench-coat collar up, hair combed back like Bogart, and a hand-rolled cigarette dangling from his lips. I don't know that any other philosopher ever *looked the part* the way Camus did.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot that's insightful in this post, but I especially like that you make clear that absurdism is not moral nihilism or an excuse to do "whatever you want"--we might make our own meaning, in the absence of any overarching metaphysical meaning, but in Camus's view we do have a responsibility to choose wisely and commit to fighting for moral good, "rebelling" against the absurd position that the universe places us in.
You're right to associate these questions with the French resistance, which is background context for the novel and "The Myth of Sisyphus"--when CAMUS is in the same position (more or less) as Meursault is when Raymond asks him to "collaborate" on a crime, he chooses resistance and rebellion against the forces of Nazi oppression. Meursault is not a simple stand-in for Camus, but he does represent a kind of "thought experiment" about a guy who has an instinctive sense of the absurd but only becomes consciously aware of absurdism and the need to "create meaning" at the very end, when all "hope" is removed. As far as I remember, the word "absurd" is only used once in the book, and it's in the midst of Meursault's outburst, when he refers to "the whole absurd life I'd lived." The immediacy of his impending death has focused his attention, and he only becomes conscious of absurdity--and AFFIRMS that absurd condition--at the very end of the novel.
I agree that Camus’s The Stranger is deeply rooted in Absurdism which shows how Meursault views the futility of trying to understand life’s irrationality. Looking at the image at the top, I think it's interesting to relate Meursault’s journey to his essay on Sisyphus. Like Sisyphus, Meursault finds freedom in the act of embracing the absurd.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post! I like how you put the book into context and explained the different philosophical currents of the time. Regarding absurdism, I think the book is also an example of how it comes into conflict when put to work in a larger society. If people's own thoughts were the guide to our actions, then it would lead to chaos. It would also be important to see how absurdist thinking might play out in another character. How different would they act compared to Meursault?
ReplyDeleteThis post was really interesting. I think Meursault can relate a lot to the idea of life not having meaning. I also think that the idea of Meursault creating his own morals is interesting although it causes him to get into trouble. However, his honesty and ways of thinking are what calls for his execution. If Meursault had more common morals, would he have lied in court or made something up?
ReplyDeleteMeursault was a pretty controversial person close to the end of the book, because people hated the way how he was so different and callous. I agree with your point about Meursault being obsessed with the truth, no matter how ugly and provoking it may be. Also, nice analysis of those three different philosophies. Great blog post.
ReplyDeleteAmazing post, Josh! First off I want to say thank you for providing clarification between the different Absurdism, Existentialism, and Nihilism since it is really easy to confuse them. The depiction of Meursault as the “Absurd Man” is quite fascinating, and how at the end of the day the only thing “certain is your own thoughts.” Thank you for also shedding light on Camus’s background while writing the novel, as it really puts everything into perspective– I for one, before reading your blog, did not realize how crucial Meursault’s character was.
ReplyDelete