The Antithesis of Absurdity 55

The Antithesis of Absurdity

through the Characters’ Characterization
in Albert Camus’ The Stranger
F.X. Lilik Dwi Mardjianto and Dewi Widyastuti

Abstract

The Stranger is a philosophical novel elaborating the author’s

thoughts through the intrinsic elements contained within it.
Meursault, the main character seems to be the representation of
the author in the way he thinks and does things. Nonetheless,
the novel contains ideas opposed to the author’s own concept of
life. These kinds of ideas are closely related to Camus’ concept of
absurdity, meaning that these opposing ideas (expressed
through the characters and their characterization) seem to be
the antithesis of Camus’ concept. Those characters, through
their speech, way of thinking and ideas represent different types
of ideas. Starting from that idea, it is relevant to analyse the
novel by focusing on those opposing ideas in the light of the
antithesis of absurdity theory.

Keywords: antithesis, absurdity

Introduction

Philosophy in many books tends to be the subject that deals with the
concept of life. People try to know more about the philosophers’ concept
of mind and way of thinking, of course from the perspective of their own
considerations, reasons, and consciousness. Some say that philosophers
actually convey interesting messages about what the universe really is.
This is what becomes the writer’s first background of study: curiosity
about what philosophers, especially Albert Camus with his concept of
Absurdity, actually try to say, since this concept is greatly concerned with
how we ought to face life.
Indeed, the writer is interested in Camus because he was not only a
philosopher but also a novelist. Through his novel The Stranger, the writer
makes certain points expressing ideas that are the opposite of absurdity.
The exploration of the ideas will eventually form the second background of
this study.
Starting from this point, the writer is confident to raise the issue
revealed in this study; the antithesis of absurdity. The study is an urgent

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one since it puts the attention on the author’s antithesis of his own theory,
not only on the description of the theory. Moreover, it does not only
explore the main character like other ordinary studies usually do, but also
pays great attention to the minor characters.
This study tries to reveal how the characters are characterized and
how the characterization becomes the antithesis of Camus’ idea of
absurdity.

Identification of Related Theories

The Stranger is the story about a man named Meursault who lives in
Algiers and faces so many unpredictable and uncertain events. Firstly he is
faced with the death of his mother within the experience of which he finds
so many things (sad atmosphere, people’s point of view, etc.) that are
different from his own philosophical views. Then, he finds himself as a
stranger in his own social life. His relationship with his girlfriend Marie and
with other characters really brings him to a point of deep concern and
confusion; his confusion about the meaning of existence and absurdity. As
the plot rises, he really gets into trouble; he becomes a murderer and
faces trial.
In order to have stronger grounds for exploring the idea of absurdity
and its antithesis, the writers try to describe the theory of both absurdity
and antithesis.

1. Absurdity

Talking about absurdity means talking about Camus’ idea of life.

Here the writers will entirely use Camus’ theory of absurdity since the
main point explored in this thesis is the antithesis of Camus’ personal
concept.
The idea of absurdity begins with the idea that life is not worth
living; that this world is peopled with such irrationals (Camus, 1955: 20).
Camus in his book entitled The Myth of Sisyphus states that one of the
examples of these irrationals is the monotonous life we face each day
(Camus, 1955: 10).
This inexplicable and irrational condition supports the fact that life
is purposeless. Without any purpose means there are no moral values that
are recognised as the standards people expect to attain. Starting from this
point, God who is known as the highest moral value in any society is
nothing. Camus insists on arguing that there are two possibilities related to
the existence of God; either God has the power or we are the ones who
have the power.

For in the presence of God, there is less a problem of freedom

than a problem of evil. You know the alternative: either we are

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not free and God the all-powerful is responsible for evil. Or we

are free and responsible but God is not all-powerful (1955: 42).

The confrontation between the human desire for a clear explanation

of this life and the inexplicable condition of the world produces the idea of
absurdity (Camus, 1955: 21). Human needs the clarity and justification of
this irrational condition, but on the contrary, the world remains silent
without any explanation. Thus, the concept of absurdity itself depends on
men and the world entirely.
Since there is no clear explanation and solution for this absurdity,
death is the best way to end all of this uncertainty. Camus illustrates life
as a journey of which the end is death. Men will realize that everything is
useless when they are near to death. It is all the matter of killing time,
waiting for death and by then the absurdity is over (Camus, 1955: 23).
Death is different from committing suicide. Suicide is not categorized as a
solution for it does not have the essential values of revolt and seems like
the attempt to give up. Therefore, the main point is revolt. This means
that we should stay alive and keep the absurd alive; we should accept
absurdity. Dealing with absurdity means facing the confrontation between
humanity and obscurity (Camus, 1955: 40).

2. Antithesis

According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the word

antithesis means the exact opposite; contrast; opposition. While another
source, A Glossary of Literary Terms, states that the word means a
contrast or opposition in the meaning contiguous phrases or clauses that
are emphasized by parallelism- that is, a similar order and structure in the
syntax. An example of this explanation is in Samuel Johnson’s prose fiction
Rasselas, “marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures”
The writer, in this case, tends to use the first definition since it
meets the requirements raised in this study that the word antithesis here
is used merely as an ordinary daily word not as a term in certain subjects
only.

Analysis

Talking about Camus’ idea means talking about the way we face this
life. His idea is firstly started through the concept of absurdity that finally
ends in the idea of human existentialism. The idea of absurdity itself starts
with the idea that life and the world is have no worth, no orientation
(absurd), and will be stopped by death. Here, in this case, death is so
important in stopping the absurdity and is not a thing to cry about. Having
no orientation means having no standard from which to justify something
as ‘good’ or ‘bad’; everything depends on the human struggle and the
revolt toward absurdity. Starting from this point, Camus stated that God,

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the standard of moral values by which we justify the quality of things is

nothing.
Those reviews reveal certain key concepts about absurdity, namely
life (related to human existence, purpose and orientation), death,
judgement, (whether something is ‘good’ or ‘bad’) and religion (about
God’s existence). Having analysed the novel and these key concepts of
absurdity, the writer found that there is a movement towards antithesis of
absurdity theory through characters and characterization. This study of
antithesis will be based on those key concepts for both main and minor
characters.

1. Main Character

The story is built from first person point of view. The main
character, Meursault plays an important role in bringing the reader into a
deep understanding of the atmosphere. Through his use of the word I, it
seems that the main character knows everything around him. Furthermore,
through his description of what is happening, Camus’ idea of absurdity is
well developed though there are some weaknesses, or in other words:
antitheses, which will be discussed in the next part. Mostly, the main
character is characterized through his deeds, speech and thoughts and
sometimes through other characters’ judgment and appreciation of him. It
is told in the story that one day Meursault, the main character, is
swimming together with his girlfriend, Marie. After swimming they go to
the movies and stay in Meursault’s apartment afterwards. When he wakes
up, Meursault realizes that Marie has gone. After that, he stays in his
apartment doing only what he wants. We then know that he is a lazy
person by his speech:

“I don’t like Sunday. So I rolled over, tried to find the salty smell
Marie’s hair had left on the pillow, and slept until ten. Then I
smoked a few cigarettes, still in bed, till noon” (p.21)

Also, we will recognize that he is an atheist and at the same time

the representation of Absurdity when he says:

“He wanted to talk to me about God again, but I went up to

him and made one last attempt to explain to him that I only
had a little time left and I didn’t want to waste it on God”
(p.120).

Meursault, the main character, is undoubtedly the depiction and

representation of Albert Camus’ idea. Most of his deeds, speeches and
thoughts are closely connected to Camus’ idea of absurdity. Despite this
clear depiction, there is also something about Meursault that contrasts

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with Camus. We can understand this contrast as Camus’ denial of his own
theory.

a. Life
Facing life means having the opportunity to live by focusing great
attention on ‘now’ not on ‘tomorrow’ or ‘the day after tomorrow’. It
means that life is today and we should not have any hope for the future.
Life is absurd, and there is no absolute value or purpose that we can rely
on. As stated by Camus, this absurd world is peopled with men who accept
Absurdity and who have ceased to hope (Camus, 1955: 68).
On the contrary, Meursault emphasises that there is the possibility of
alteration, meaning that he hopes that there will be a better situation
replacing his unpleasant life in prison.

“In fact, I wasn’t really in prison those first few days: I was sort
of waiting for something to happen” (p.72).

This act of hoping shows that Meursault, in some ways denies Camus’
theory that one should not have any hope.

b. Death
Death is the only thing, according to Camus, that can stop this
absurdity. This uncertain and inexplicable world will finally end when
humans die. Hence, death is a normal process in this life. Meursault is the
representation of this idea, meaning that he was not sad at the death of
his mother.
Nevertheless, he once says something different from those concepts;
he is sad and he wishes that all those things had not happened. His first
reaction to death supports the theory of Absurdity. However, we know that
Meursault eventually regrets his mother’s death.

“What I can say for certain is that I would rather Maman

hadn’t died” (p. 65).

This final reaction or wish that his mother is still alive is evidence of
the antithesis of Absurdity. It is possible that this denial is derived from his
conscience or from the pressure of society, represented by the court in this
case. As we know Meursault is eventually brought to court and condemned
to death for killing an Arab.

c. Judgement

The main issue under discussion is related to the justification of the

belief that one has the right to judge the quality of someone or something.
Since it is the expression of each person’s human freedom to face
absurdity in his or her own way and since there is no absolute standard of

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moral value, a person may not judge someone else by her or his own
standards. Everyone is special and cannot be blamed; they are the masters
of their own lives (Camus, 1955: 87).
Meursault experiences social pressure which excludes him and makes
him feel estranged and because of this he turns against those who
criticised him for ignoring his mother. This action of blaming others is in
opposition to Camus’ concept.

“Then he said, very quickly and with an embarrassed look, that

he realized some people in the neighbourhood thought badly of
me for having sent Maman to the home…” (p. 45)

From this quotation, we learn that Meursault’s action is opposed to

Camus’ theory. Therefore it becomes the antithesis of the theory.

2. Minor characters

Despite the main character’s importance in establishing the

atmosphere and Camus’ hidden message, the minor characters are also
given, more or less equal status since there is enough exploration of and
attention paid to them. This exploration and attention are closely
connected to the way the author characterizes them. They are
characterized by both their own actions and by other characters,
especially Meursault’s description of them. Say for example we will
recognize that Marie, Meursault’s girlfriend, as a loving person with an
optimistic view of the future. She keeps on arguing that life is so
worthwhile because of its purpose, which is marriage. We will know later
that this characteristic is the antithesis of Camus’ view on Absurdity. In his
theory, he says that life is purposeless since humans should put the
attention on “today”, the present and should not have any hope for the
future.

“ Then she pointed out that marriage was a serious thing…so she took
my arm with a smile and said she wanted to marry me”. (p.42)

Raymond Sintes, his neighbour is also characterized as a cheerful

person when he, together with Meursault and Marie are in Meursault’s
room (p.47). This description shows other characters’ significance in
drawing out one’s characteristics.

a. Life
The antithesis of Camus’ concept of life is mostly related to the
understanding of the purpose of life and the counter argument from
society indicating that Meursault is a stranger because of his extraordinary
thoughts. This opposing idea is clearly represented by Salamano (his
neighbour), Marie (his girlfriend), and the prosecutor.

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Salamano represents the reality that most people have their own
purpose and ambition which will influence the final destination of their
lives. Here in the novel, Salamano is characterized as a person whose
entire life has been dedicated to his dog since the death of his wife.
Obviously, the dog has become Salamano’s sole purpose and destination in
life. It is an obvious contradiction of Camus’ concept of absurd life in
which we cannot find any hope.

“I asked him in and he told me that his dog was lost … I told Salamano
that he could get another dog, but he was right to point out to me that
he was used to this one.” (p. 44)

Like Salamano, Marie is a clear contradiction of Meursault’s idea in

facing life. She is very much interested in marriage and she considers it an
important thing that she should experience in the future (p. 42)
The last one person to stand in contradiction to Meursault is the
prosecutor. He emphasises the fact that Meursault is alienated because of
his way of thinking.

“He stated that I had no place in a society whose most fundamental

rules I ignored and that could not appeal to the same human heart
whose elementary response I knew nothing of.” (p. 102)

From the quotation, we learn that the prosecutor implicitly states

that society with its fundamental rules opposes Meursault’s concept of
mind. The prosecutor, in this case is the antithesis of Absurdity since he,
on behalf of society blames Meursault for ignoring society’s fundamental
rules.

b. Death
The exploration of this subject is more or less the comparison
between the concept of death according to Absurdity and the reality of
death. People see death as desperation, meaning that one will be sad if he
or she is faced with the death of friends or the things he or she loves. One
of the representations of this concept is the woman who is crying before
Meursault’s mother’s body. She is very sad because she was a close friend
of his mother (p. 10). Crying over a dead body indicates the antithesis of
Absurdity since Absurdity itself teaches us to accept death as a normal
process of life.

c. Judgement

Raymond Sintes is the one who represents the concept that is in

direct opposition to Camus’ idea. By exploring Sintes’ hatred of his girl for
cheating him (p. 30), we are taught to be aware of the reality that there
are a lot of judgements of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ in our society. It brings us a
direct antithesis of Camus’ concept, because, according to the theory of

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Absurdity, one has no right to judge others’ quality since everyone is free
and cannot be blamed.

d. Religion
The main topic related to religion is the existence of God. Camus’
denial of God is broken solely by the chaplain’s statement indicating that
God is trusted by society; His existence is absolute for everyone. Absurdity
believes that God, the highest moral value on earth is nothing because He
is unable to handle the irrational.
“Then God can help you…Everyman I have known in your position has
turned to Him.” (p. 16)

The antithesis related to this key concept (religion) is not found in

Meursault, the main character since he is the only one who does not
believe in God.

Conclusion

Philosophy has been a challenging field of study for years. One thing
that makes it challenging is that philosophy seems to be difficult since it
analyses and explores how people think. At a certain stage, this way of
thinking will influence how people act. Sometimes the way a philosopher
acts and thinks is commonly considered as freakish and abnormal. They
usually think and act on the basis of their own principles, which are
different from public opinion.
Camus lives his life according to his own principles. He, through the
novel’s main character, feels like a stranger because his extraordinary
thoughts lead him to a state of alienation. Camus’ way in characterizing
the characters is mainly dedicated to conveying his concept of absurdity.
The ideas are represented by the characters’ deeds, thoughts, speech and
feelings.
Apart from the facts previously stated, the writer recognizes Camus’
awareness of being a stranger through his exploration of opposing ideas
coming from society. This exploration is also visualized within characters
and their characterization. Having compared the characters’
characterization with Camus’ concept of Absurdity, the writer separates
the antithesis of Absurdity into four groups, namely life, death, judgement
and religion. In each successive group, the characters represent opposing
ideas to Absurdity. Some characters insist on arguing that life is worthy
and is dedicated to a final goal at the end, others feel regret over death,
judge other’s qualities and totally believe in God.
These opposing ideas known as the antithesis obviously express
Camus’ awareness of social pressure and his evaluation of his own theory.
In brief, we may say that characters and characterization in Albert Camus’
The Stranger are both imitation and antithesis of his theory.

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