Wesley Huang Period 3 10/1/13

The Natural Irrational World 1995 Prompt In Albert Camus, The Stranger, the alienation of Meursault from the world around him highlights societys futile attempt to find reason and order in an irrational world. Meursaults experiences in the courtroom and in prison illuminate the beliefs and values of society. Analysis Meursaults indifference in the courtroom reveals societys belief in lawfulness. Meursault murders the Arab with no apparent motive, causing the members in court to try to deduce with the logical reasoning behind it. His lawyer peppers him with questions in order to find gaps in the story, which he may use to defend Meursault. Due to Meursaults amoral viewpoint, Meursault tells the complete, honest truth. He does not believe in looking to the future for consequences for his actions, only in what will happen in the present. His lawyer cannot see the reasoning, or lack thereof, through Meursaults eyes; he believes in some sort of rationality with actions, thus he alienates Meursault. This shows how society tries to find reason behind unexplained forces. Society assumes order exists, ergo the creation of laws and judges. The prosecutor points out Meursaults indifference towards grief, love and friendship. His indifference in the courtroom harms Meursaults reputation far more than the actual murder does. Society feels threatened by the idea that life has no apparent meaning. Both lawyers strive to explain Meursaults irrational behavior through logic, cause and effect, and reasoning, yet there lie no concrete facts behind them. The prosecutor calls for the death penalty, calling Meursault

a monster. This exemplifies how a person who embraces absurdity disrupts the norm, causing society to eliminate Meursault in this case. His prison sentence epitomizes societys endeavor to find order in an irrational situation. Meursaults experience with the chaplain and Meursaults revelation expose the absurdity of society. Meursault constantly refuses to see the chaplain, but the chaplain forces the issue and comes to Meursault himself. The chaplain strives to convert Meursault into Christianity, using the idea of heaven as his cause. The chaplain represents the false hope society imposes on people. Society creates religion to control people and to provide an explanation of a meaningless life. Meursault realizes the futility of that aspect, and feels insulted by the chaplain. Meursault knows in life, everybody will die, thus, there lies no reasoning in living a life for a better future that does not exist. During Meursaults stay in prison, he contemplates an optimism encompassing the idea that he can go free and enjoy the life he once had. However, he realizes the pointlessness of this hope because his death will come inevitably. It does not matter whether he leaves free or not, he will ultimately have to face tribulation. The world will not change whether a person dies now or later (The gentle indifference of the world(chapter 5, page 122)), and society struggles to embrace that. In trying to understand meaning in a universe without it, society ends up conflicting with the natural irrationality of the world. Meursault comes to terms to the absurdness within that belief, allowing him to attain true happiness and enjoy the last few days of his life. Society seeks to create purpose and order in an irrational universe. People like Meursault threaten these ideals as they reveal the brutal truth about mans life. The

comprehension of lifes meaning, or lack thereof, ultimately brings one satisfaction and ease.