The Outsider
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- Category: English: Novels
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The Outsider
Analytical essay
Question: Mersault is as much a victim of his own attitude to life and society as he is of the judicial system. Discuss
‘The Outsider’ by Albert Camus is based on the first person narrative of the protagonist Mersault. Throughout the novel, it is comprehensible that Mersault is different and indifferent towards the society he lives in. It is also understandable that Mersault lives life according to his own rules. Mersault, with such detached personality in opposition to the society, exhibits a startling lack of emotions towards the events that most may consider to be important; death of his mother. Mersault’s rejection of living life according to society’s rules direct him into trouble with the very society he is trying to avoid. Mersault’s character and habits make him unique when it comes to comparing with the people of society.
Mersault’s inability to express emotion is an example of his nonconformist character. When he hears of the death of his mother through a telegram, Mersault is unattached, and can be considered uncaring. He speaks without regret for his loss, merely stating, “Mother died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know.” His only concern is that of his uncertainty of the date, with no mention of it’s’ effect on him.
Camus further distances Mersault from the society in which he lives through his lack of morals. He is a stranger to social custom. His friend, Raymond, tells Mersault about the woman he lived with who he had recently discovered was cheating on him, and how he beat her. He wants to discipline this girl even though he still has sexual feelings for her. Raymond asks Mersault what he thinks about the whole thing and Mersault answers, “I didn’t think anything but that it was interesting”. Mersault has no definite opinion of his own. He always appears to be in accord with what everyone else has to say. Mersault expresses no condemnation of Raymond’s physical abuse...
Analytical essay
Question: Mersault is as much a victim of his own attitude to life and society as he is of the judicial system. Discuss
‘The Outsider’ by Albert Camus is based on the first person narrative of the protagonist Mersault. Throughout the novel, it is comprehensible that Mersault is different and indifferent towards the society he lives in. It is also understandable that Mersault lives life according to his own rules. Mersault, with such detached personality in opposition to the society, exhibits a startling lack of emotions towards the events that most may consider to be important; death of his mother. Mersault’s rejection of living life according to society’s rules direct him into trouble with the very society he is trying to avoid. Mersault’s character and habits make him unique when it comes to comparing with the people of society.
Mersault’s inability to express emotion is an example of his nonconformist character. When he hears of the death of his mother through a telegram, Mersault is unattached, and can be considered uncaring. He speaks without regret for his loss, merely stating, “Mother died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know.” His only concern is that of his uncertainty of the date, with no mention of it’s’ effect on him.
Camus further distances Mersault from the society in which he lives through his lack of morals. He is a stranger to social custom. His friend, Raymond, tells Mersault about the woman he lived with who he had recently discovered was cheating on him, and how he beat her. He wants to discipline this girl even though he still has sexual feelings for her. Raymond asks Mersault what he thinks about the whole thing and Mersault answers, “I didn’t think anything but that it was interesting”. Mersault has no definite opinion of his own. He always appears to be in accord with what everyone else has to say. Mersault expresses no condemnation of Raymond’s physical abuse...