| Nicole Mercedes IB English H.L. Al Written Assignment \ May 2019 Page | of 6 Word Count: 1466 Since the beginning of time, humans have had an altercation with the true meaning of life and one’s purpose in it. The radial idea that life is meaningless due to the inevitability of death is, what played a major role in the engenderment of religious and abstract beliefs in an existence that is beyond this hopeless phenomenon, However, ever since the twentieth-century, there has ‘cen gn acct li ts ie AGE i ptpane, oo mothe belnt'n a cold universe that is indifferent to this quest for meaning. The word absurd is defined as “having no rational or orderly relationship to human life” as well as “meaningless” and “lacking order or value,” (Merriam-Webster). The story of Sisyphus provides an excellent entre into the realities of the absurd nature of life, and is a great contrast to Camus’ protagonist Meursault, who simply accepts the absurd and sees hope as a burden. Camus quotes in the work, “What is called a reason for living is also an excellent reason for dying.” (Camus 12). It is highlighted that although humans continue to search for a rational order within the world around them, the world. does not care for their needs and it will eventually confront them with death either way. Meursault strongly believes in this and it is depicted through his lack of morals, his disregard towards religion, and his satisfaction when he is confronted with his death. The topic of absurdism is clearly presented in Camus’ philosophical novel, entitled The Stranger, where the acceptance of life’s absurdity is seen as the first step to being fully alive.Mercedes 2 From the beginning of the story, Meursault’s sense of indifference and dispassion towards the world around him is clearly displayed. He is frequently engaged by physical sensations yet lacks a sense for practically everything else, such as those who are close to him. This also arouses a lack of sense for what is considered right, wrong, and beneficial, bi chapter five, when confronted by the fortuitous opportunity of receiving a new job in Paris, Meursault is careless and does not seem to show any excitement, Which infuriates his boss, who is granting him such ‘an appealing chance to experience a change of life. This sort of reaction to the job promotion is Peculiar to his boss, but Meursault simply responds by stating, “People never change their lives...one life was as good as another..1 wasn’t dissatisfied with mine here at all,” (Camus 41). It is clear that Meursault truly does “lack ambition,” just as his boss states. This is shown through the use of mood, as his apathetic, pessimistic and pensive attitude is brought to light, with being such an absurdist. By stating how “one life was as good as another,” he believes thai the choices ‘one makes in their life, whether favorable or not, do not matter, because in the end, itis all meaningless. This is most certainly an absurdist point of view, as it correlates to the idea of hopelessness when it comes to change and human existence. Meursault’s apathy and insensitivity has been exhibited through many of his actions: smoking at his mother’s funeral, going to the beach with a woman the day after his mother’s funeral, being unable to truly be in love with the ‘woman, as well us wanting to satisfy a pimp by aiding in his plan for cruel revenge. It is quite clear that Meursault falls short of morals, as an absurdist outlook on life gives no determination to possess values or see the meaning in the lives of others. Although religion and a belief in a spiritual being is what provides meaning and rational order for many who believe in them, it certainly does not for Meursault, who finds it all toMercedes 3 fettious and nothing but false hope. Upon the eve of his execution duc to his murderous crime, Meursault is visited by the chaplain and is given the chance to turn “human injustice into divine Justice” (Camus 118) by accepting God into his life and repenting from his sin. However, Meursault strictly does not believe in God, and angrily states, “What did his God or the lives People chose or the fate they think they elect matter to me when’ we're all elected by the same fate...." (Camus 121). Meursault is far from open to the chaplain’s preaching; he does not believe in an afterlife or a reliance on the supernatural world. This is because Meursault is not certain of it, and therefore demonstrates a conflict of man vs. fate and the supernatural, as he is Boing completely against the idea ofa god and refuses to let it determine his destiny. The chaplain, and even the readers themselves, are assured that Meursault would not go to heaven for his wrongdoings, however Meursault is not even aware ofa heaven or hell, because his beliefs are solely limited to this world, He is only certain about one thing—death—and he finds no reason ‘e reveive consolation on something that will affront everyone, including the privileged. This is shown in the quote when he statés “we're all elected by the same fate.” Meursault does not look {0 find meaning in God due to his nihilism and absurdism, All absurdist believe it is ludicrous to tean on religion to find worth in one’s life. Camus himself looks at it o bea “philosophical suicide” due to having hope for what isnot really real or provable. This is why he believes in ‘embracing the absurd, like Meursault, rather than searching for meaning that will not truly satisfy oneself. Ever since Meursault was convicted for his crime and faced with the death penalty, he has had a more serious, personal scope on the meaning of both life and death, This plays a prodigious role in his character development because he comes into realization withMercedes 4 philosophical views. He is met by a world of people who look at him as a stranger and a monster who is a threat to society, due to his propensity of being indifferent to the ideals that one should live by. Confronting his death was not a facible thing to do, but he later becomes aware of the inevitability of the guillotine and that his departure from this irrational world would sna him eventually. At the very end of the novel, he states contentedly, “I peecdimyert io be gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself...like a brother, really... was happy again” (Camus 122-123). Meursault surely demonstrates an epiphany as he finally grasps the universe's indifference to human behavior, just as he is indifferent to human behavior. This is why Meursault looks to it as a “brother”, and in opening himself to the “gentle indifference of the world,” he accepts the reality of absurd human existence and is at peace with himself. The impasse of his execution is a powerful affirmation of the absurd, and so is his whole trial, considering he was punished for his amoral being rather than the actual act of murder, Meursault is consequently destitute of any hope, and with his new absurdist understanding, he looks forward to leaving the world and being able to “live” once again. In the end, embracing the Absurd may be the only way to achieve happiness when it comes to living in an absurd vorld. There are three ways that one may resolve the dilemma of ‘meaninglessness on earth, and this is either through suicide (escaping existence), religion (believing in a reality that is beyond the Absurd and gives meaning), or simply accepting the Absurd, such as Meursault, As an absurd man, Meursault has always disregarded abstract ideas that are beyond human experience. By fully consenting to the world’s absurdity, he has achieved both happiness and freedom. If we refer back to Camus’ philosophical essay The Myth of Sisyphus, Meursault can be easily compared to Sisyphus, who accepts his fate and also learns toMercedes 5 value the last moments of his life. Sisyphus is a man struggling to achieve something and refusing to give into despair. He was a king eternally condemned to roll a heavy rock up ¢ hill just for it to roll down again, but strongly pursued to push the rock and embrace his situation. This painful task is very symbolic of an absurd human existence, and depicts how people can respond to it through hope, in contrast to Meursault. At the end of the book, although Meursault continues to be a stranger to society, he is no longer a stranger to the world or himself, and this is through recognizing his fate of death and being content with it. What really is the meaning of life, and is there a purpose in finding it all?Mercedes 6 ‘Works Cited Camus, Albert. The Stranger. New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 1989, Z Merriam, George and Charles. "Absurd." Merriam-Webster.com. ‘Merriam-Webster, 1828.,Web. 18 May 2019.