Commentary Essay on ‘The Stranger’

Meursault, the protagonist of the novel, discovers that his mother died in an old home. The death of his mother seems to have little effect on him due to his detached emotions and self centered belief of living which makes him look ‘The Stranger’ to the society. Meursault gets into relationship with his former coworker while celebrating life merry go round way right after the funeral of his mother. Meursault helps his friend Raymond writing a letter to trap Raymond’s ex girlfriend which he believes is an infidel and should be punished. Meursault doesn’t repent insulting and spitting on her face because he believes that people are either annoying or provoking for no good reason. Meursault even testifies against Raymond’s girlfriend in the court accusing her of serious crimes which result in Raymond’s acquittal. Raymond invites Meursault and Marie to a friend’s beach house to celebrate their victory. The girlfriend’s brother attacks them while they are taking a stroll and fatally injures Raymond with a knife. Meursault acts out after being hospitalized taking the gun from Raymond an

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d looking for the person who assaulted them. His manhunt brings him to the target who again flashes a knife at him. Meursault shoots him delivering a fatal blow while he still stands there to deliver four more shots making sure that the person never gets up again. After being arrested, he stands a trial for a murder he committed for no explicable reason. He is considered guilty by his own defense lawyer due to his passive nature and inability to repent on his crimes but the lawyer still tries to make sense of his actions by maintaining that Meursault’s actions had some logic as the universe isn’t meaningless. However the prosecution dissects Meursault’s personality pointing out his inability to feel any remorse for his actions while denouncing him as a soulless monster with no right to life. The verdict of the court sentences him to be guillotined publicly. Meursault rejects Church’s offer of salvation saying that life is meaningless. The idea of universe’s indifference and meaningless existence helps him create his own happiness which he enjoys during his final days in the captivity.

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