The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in
Albert Camus’ The Stranger
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI Student Number: 034214059
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI Student Number: 034214059
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA 2008
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama : Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi Nomor Mahasiswa : 034214059
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul :
The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character
in Albert Camus’ The Stranger
Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royakti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal : 31 maret 2008 Yang menyatakan
(Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi)
Life is a Matter of Choice
Even
Not to Choose is also a Choice
(Jean Paul Sartre)
This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to
My beloved parents
My amazing brothers and sisters
My wonderful friends
You are. The most amazing friend I ever had, who never leave me in every single step I take. Thank you Jesus for giving me so many miracles in my life. Thank you for your guidance in every phase of life, especially during the process of making this undergraduate thesis. I do believe that without Your guidance I will not be able to finish this undergraduate thesis on time.
I would like to express my best gratitude to my amazing advisor, Mrs. Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S, M.Hum. for her attention, precious suggestions and also for the lunch. I realize that without her encouragement, this thesis will not be completed. Thank you Mrs. Putu for your never-ending support, it really means a lot. Special thanks to my co-advisor, Mr. Paulus Sarwoto, S.S., M.A. for the corrections and suggestions that make this undergraduate thesis better. My gratefulness goes to Romo Harry for the discussion. I do believe that without him I cannot understand this novel well.
My best gratitude is for my incredible family, the best father ever, Ag. Mudyo Hartono, to give me his extraordinary patience and my unbelievable mother ever, Elizabeth Sri Rahayu, for the struggle and for her never lasting prayer. To my lovely brothers, Mas Hardi, Mas Agus, Mas Edi, Mas Heri, Mas Darsono, Mas Sigit, Mas Agung, Mas Wawan, and Mas Viki, and sisters, Mbak Retno, Mbak Tutik, Mbak Wiwin, Mbak Rini, Mbak Erni, Mbak Oni and Mbak Dewi thanks for endless support and love. To my nieces and nephews for the laughter, it is really inspiring. I do love you all. Thank
you also for Pak Nardi’s family for the prayers and for being another family for me. And for lovely my aunt’s family, thank you for the love.
Thank you for my wonderful friends, Danik, Stella, Danang and Tika for sharing a lot of things, for the laughter, love and tears. To my lovely friends, Sari, Meme, Alice, Dwi, Poppy, Nilla, Sari, Novi, Wayan, Anita, Nitnot, Susi, Bayang, Dodi, Wedhus, Mbendol, Tio, Budi, Makwik, Yabes and all ’03 English Letters Students. For Tartuffe family (Frida, Tyas, Ocha, Lusi, Poppy, Yabes, Jony, Danang, Deon, Danik, Mas Dika, Mas Jody, Galang, Sunu, Mas Dito and Mas Teguh), thanks for helping me learning how to work as a team. Thanks to Ginting, Wahmuji, Mando and Kethek for the support and suggestion. Thanks to Dewi and Lolin who lent their computer. Thanks to ERROR crew, especially Reta, Desy and Darti for the fantastic moments we have spent. For Magis ’08 community, thanks for the sharing, support and friendship. Special thanks goes to FCJ sisters for their guidance, love and prayer. For my wonderful CAS CIS, thanks for the beautiful voices. All of you are truly angels.
Much thanks to my new sisters, Cindy, Mei and De’ Ari. Thanks for being true friends for me. I learn a lot how to be a friend and to be a loveable person. The three of you already change my view about friendship and thanks for always beside me in my happiness and sadness. I love you. Thanks to my boarding house friends, Mbak Nina, Lolin and Meta, for the laughter and silly things you have shared.
Thank you for Nino who gives me the insight to see the world differently, thanks for everything.
Last but not least, thanks for a miracle happens in my life.
Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi
APPROVAL PAGE ... ii
2. Theories of Characterization ... 12
3. Theory of Existentialism ... 14
3.1. Existentialism View and Existentialist Literature ... 14
3.2. Nietzsche’s Theory on Existentialism ... 17
3.3. Sartre’s Theory on Existentialism ... 18
3.4. Camus’ Theory on Existentialism ... 19
4. Literature and Existentialism ... 21
C. Theoretical Framework ... 22
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ... 24
A. Object of the Study ... 24
B. Approach of the Study ... 25
C. Method of the Study ... 26
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ... 28
A. The Characterization of the Main Character ... 28
B. The Ideas of Existentialism Revealed through in the Main Character ... 39
1. Mersault’s view towards God ... 40
2. Mersault’s view towards love ... 44
3. Mersault’s view towards death ... 48
4. Mersault’s view towards freedom ... 52
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ... 57
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 60
Departement of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2008. The Stranger is one of Albert Camus’s novels. The novel tells about an absurd live lived by the main character. Meursault as the main character in the story differently sees life as the other characters do. He has his own value and belief. Through his attitudes, speeches and other’s point of view about him, it is obvious that Meursault’s characteristics confirm some principles of existentialism. In this sense, Camus delivers his ideas on existentialism through the main character. The main character is used as Camus’ means to deliver his thought.
There are two problem formulations formulated in this undergraduate thesis; (1) How is the main character, Meursault, characterized in the story?, (2) What are the ideas of existentialism revealed through the main character in the novel?. The objectives of this undergraduate thesis are; first, to find out how the main character in the novel is characterized, second, to find out the ideas of existentialism as revealed through the main character in the novel.
Since this study focused on literary work, the writer used library research. The writer took all the references from the library to support the analysis. To strengthen the analysis a moral-philosophical approach is employed.
Through the analysis, it is found that the main character’s characterization has a significant role in revealing the ideas of existentialism. The way the main character, Meursault, sees the life and the events in his surrounding becomes the evidence that Camus employs the main character as his means to deliver his ideas on existentialism. By paying a great attention on Meursault’s characteristics, the writer finds some principles of existentialism portrayed in Meursault’s characteristics. In this sense, existentialism is described as an existence that requires a total freedom. A total freedom can be gained when people live entirely apart from God. Though a man should have an absolute freedom, a total responsibility is required. Love should be avoided since it is a forgetfulness of the self. Furthermore, everything people do in their life will be ended by death. Death is natural and normal thing to happen as a cycle of life. However, suicide is not the best solution to end a life, but to struggle is the thing that people should do to face the absurd world. This belief leads people to behave absurdly. In other word, absurdity becomes the essential characteristic of existentialism.
ABSTRAK
YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI. The ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. Yogyakarta: Fakultas Sastra, Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2008.
The Stranger adalah salah satu novel karangan Albert Camus. Novel ini bercerita tentang kehidupan absurd tokoh utamanya. Meursault sebagai tokoh utama memandang hidup secara berbeda dari tokoh-tokoh lainnya. Dia mempunyai nilai-nilai dan kepercayaan sendiri. Melalui tingkah laku, perkataan dan penilai-nilaian tokoh lain terhadapnya, jelas terlihat bahwa penokohan Meursault mengusung prinsip-prinsip existensialisme. Dalam hal ini, Camus menyampaikan gagasan-gagasan existensialismenya melalui tokoh utamanya. Tokoh utama digunakan sebagai alat Camus untuk menyampaikan pemikirannya.
Ada dua pokok permasalahan yang dirumuskan dalam studi ini; (1) Bagaimana tokoh utama, Meursault, digambarkan dalam cerita ini? (2) Gagasan-gagasan existensialisme apa saja yang diungkapkan melalui tokoh utama dalam novel ini? Tujuan dari studi ini adalah; pertama, untuk menemukan bagaimana tokoh utama digambarkan, kedua, untuk menemukan gagasan-gagasan existensialisme yang diungkapkan melalui tokoh utama dalam novel ini.
Karena studi ini menitikberatkan pada karya sastra, penulis menggunakan studi pustaka. Penulis menggunakan sumber pustaka untuk analisis. Untuk memperkuat analisis, pedekatan filsafat moral digunakan.
Melalui bagian analisis, ditemukan bahwa penokohan tokoh utama mempunyai peran penting dalam mengungkapkan gagasan-gagasan existensialisme. Cara pandang tokoh utama terhadap hidup dan kejadian-kejadian di sekitarnya menjadi bukti bahwa Camus menggunakan tokoh utama untuk menyampaikan gagasan-gagasan existensialismenya.
Dengan memberikan perhatian penuh pada penokohan Meursault, penulis menemukan prinsip-prinsip existensialisme yang tergambar dalam penokohan Meursault. Dalam hal ini, existensialisme dideskripsikan sebagai sebuah eksistensi yang bersyarat kebesasan penuh. Kebebesan penuh dapat dicapai saat seseorang hidup terlepas dari Tuhan. Walaupun seseorang harus memiliki kebebasan penuh, tanggungjawab yang penuhpun diwajibkan. Cinta harus dicegah karena cinta adalah peninggalan diri sendiri. Selain itu, apapun yang dilakukan manusia akan dihentikan oleh kematian. Kematian adalah kejadian alami yang terjadi sebagai bagian dari rantai kehidupan. Walaupun demikian, bunuh diri bukan cara terbaik untuk mengakhiri hidup, tetapi berjuang adalah hal yang harus dilakukan untuk menghadapi hidup yang absurd. Kepercayaan ini membawa seseorang untuk bertindak absurd. Ini berarti bahwa, absurditas adalah ciri penting dari existensialisme.
A. Background of The Study
Existentialism as part of philosophy is interesting to be discussed. One thing that makes it interesting is that existentialism focuses on human being. In existentialism, human being becomes the central of everything. The other thing is that it concerns about the way people think. Each person in the world is different from one and another, especially in the way he or she thinks. As the result of people’s different way of thinking, there are various concepts of existentialism.
One of the most famous existentialism concepts is ‘existence’ precedes ‘essence’. This concept means that existence is prior than essence (Horton and Edward, 1967:457). According to Barrett, man does not have a fixed essence that is given to him ready-made, but he makes his own nature out of his freedom and his historical condition where he lives (1962:102).
It is obvious that existentialism focuses on human beings. Human beings have a freedom to create themselves, to be what they want to be. Their personality is not given naturally but it is created by the freedom they have, the choices they make and the condition where they live.
There are some philosophers who interpret the existence of human beings such as Jean Paul Sartre, Heidegger, Jaspers, Soren Kiekegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, and also Albert Camus. Each philosopher has his or her own concept of existentialism. Some of them belong to theistic existentialist and the others are
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atheistic existentialists. Though they have different concepts and ways of thinking, they argue the same issue that is the existence of human beings.
In this undergraduate thesis, the writer will focus on the concept of existentialism proposed by Camus. Camus’ works are mostly associated with existentialism. Different from Soren Kiekegaard’s existentialism, which teaches people to depend their life on God and choose to live as a Christian, Camus’ existentialism does not believe in God’s existence. Like Sartre and Nietzsche, Camus is considered as an atheistic existentialist (Kaufman, 1956:289). Fairly similar with Sartre, Camus focuses on individualism. They argue that men should find integrity within themselves. Meaning that each man has to be independent and does not depend his or her life on others (Kaufman, 1956: 47).
Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean Paul Sartre take an important role in Camus’ philosophical thought. Seeing that Nietzsche has a big influence in existentialism, many existentialists, including Albert Camus, are influenced by his way of thinking. It is not surprising anymore that Nietzsche’s concept of existentialism often appears in Camus’ work. While Sartre also influences Camus’ philosophical thought, Sartre is Camus’ companion. They became close to each other when Camus worked in Combat. Sartre’s influence can also be seen in Camus’ work.
philosophical essay carries the idea of absurdity. His novel entitled The Stranger, tells about a man who lives an absurd life. The novel brings the feeling of absurdity as the main atmosphere of the story. The atmosphere of absurdity can be felt through the main character’s attitude that is unusual. There are still many other works Camus wrote such as Caligula, The Misunderstanding, and The Plague.
The Stranger is the main source to be discussed in this undergraduate thesis.
As stated above, The Stranger is a story about man who lives an absurd life. In this novel, Camus brought the ideas of existentialism. The absurd way of living chosen by Meursault becomes the manifestation of his existentialism. The novel is divided into two parts. The first part deals with Meursault and his environment, how he responds to the custom in the society where he lives and how he responds to other people’s behavior. Here, his attitude towards others and his environment represents his existentialism. While the second part, when Meursault comes to the moment when he killed an Arab without certain motive, strengthens his ideas of existentialism.
The Stranger is chosen as the source of this undergraduate thesis because this
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existentialism. Another reason why this novel is chosen is because it achieved a great success when it appeared in 1942 and became Camus’ best known and most popular work among youngsters (O’Brien, 1970:24).
The topic discussed in this undergraduate thesis is The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed Through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. Here,
the main character in the novel, Meursault, will be the focus of the study. The writer wants to reveal the ideas of existentialism through the main character in the novel. The main character in the novel undergoes the process of finding his existence as a human being. He also looks for unlimited freedom by being an extraordinary man.
B. Problems Formulation
The problems of this thesis that will be discussed can be formulated as follows:
1.How is the main character, Meursault, characterized in the story?
2.What are the ideas of existentialism revealed through the main character in the novel?
C. Objectives of the Study
D. Definition of Terms
To avoid misunderstanding about the term used in this thesis, the writer wants to clarify the term of existentialism that the writer used in this undergraduate thesis by giving the definition.
Since it concerns about the way people thinks, the concept of mind, existentialism is not easily defined. There are a lot of definitions of existentialism. In order to have a vivid definition, the writer sums up the definitions of existentialism that already formulated by some writers. As the result, existentialism is defined as a mindset that emphasizes on individual uniqueness. In existentialism, existence is considered more prior than essence. Human beings are free to choose their own way to live and have a total freedom, but at the same time they also have to be responsible for the act and the decision they make. Existentialism also sees human’s inability to explain the world condition and absurdity becomes the main characteristic of human condition.
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
In this part, the writer deals with the previous studies that have been done related to the topic of this thesis. The studies are taken from some theses from the students of English Letters Study Programme Department of English Letters Faculty of Letters Sanata Dharma University and some are taken from the experts.
One of the studies taken is Dicky Christanto’s thesis entitled “Humanity, Absurdity and Atheism Found in Albert Camus’ The Plague in Relation with Karl Marx Criticism toward Religion”. In this thesis the writer compares Camus’ ideas toward religion and Marx’s criticism toward religion, the similarities and differences between Camus’ and Marx’s atheism, the application of atheism shown by the main character in the novel, The Plague and Marx himself . This thesis also covers the message that can be taken from the discussion of Atheism (Christianto,1998:6).
Another study is the undergraduate thesis entitled “Human Revolt Related to the Crisis of Freedom in The Main Character of Albert Camus’ The Stranger “. This thesis was written by Bambang Hendriyanto. In this thesis the writer focuses on the study of plot, the setting of the novel and how the main character represents his rebellion as the effect of freedom crisis (Hendriyanto,1998:4).
A different angle in seeing the novel is taken by F.X Lilik Mardjianto. In his thesis entitled “The Significance of the Characterization of the Minor Characters to the Elaboration of The Theme In Albert Camus’ The Stranger”, the writer explores the minor characters’ characteristics to find its significance that can be confronted to the main character’s personalities. Here the main character is the representation of absurdity while the minor characters are the antithesis of the absurdity. By confronting the characterization between the main character and the minor characters, the writer can find the significance of the minor character in order to find out the suitable theme for the novel that is “absurdity is the ultimate truth” (Mardjianto, 2005:6).
Jean Paul Sartre also wrote a philosophical essay on Camus’ work. In his essay, Sartre mainly discussed two of Camus’ works which are The Outsider, the previous title of The Stranger, and The Myth of Sisyphus. He said that, these two works are associated with one another. Both of them bring about absurdity in different way. In The Stranger, the story tells about a man living in an absurd way. The ideas of absurdity are not provided in this story. The writer only describes the feeling of the main character, which is the feeling of being absurd. Meanwhile, The Myth of Sisyphus provides the ideas of absurdity. The Myth of Sisyphus becomes an explanation of absurdity concept.
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The Stranger provides us the feeling of absurdity. It means that when people
read this work they will be driven into the feeling of absurd. It happens when people, in this case the main character, has the concept of existentialism in his mind, he will live in an absurd way and this absurd way of living will be felt by the reader.
An almost similar discussion is also proposed by Conor Cruise O’Brien in his book entitled Camus. In his book, he discusses three of Camus’ works, which are: Caligula, The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus. These works are considered to have interrelationship to each other and regarded as forming the phase of the stranger, meaning that these three works are Camus’ means in delivering his idea about absurd life (O’Brien 1970:9).
O’Brien begins his writing by stating Camus’ biography; that Camus was raised in a poor family and lived in European working class. He received a good opportunity to continue his study in the Lychee in Algiers. Camus joined the anti-fascist Amsterdam Pleyel movement and also joined the communist party. In 1937, he broke up with the party. He began to write in 1935 and published an essay entitled Betwixt and Between. Then in 1938 he wrote his second play, Caligula and began writing on the absurd, The Myth of Sisyphus and Notes for
The Stranger. In 1941, he completed these three works (O’Brien 1970:7-9).
Concerning to The Stranger, O’Brien puts a great attention on the main character. He sums up the story by stating the evidences that the main character in the story is an indifferent man. The way he lives is different from others. His indifference can be seen in the way he responds to his society and the way he shows his existentialism through his action. It is clearly seen that Meursault is really aware of his monotonous life and tries to rebel against it by being an indifferent man (O’Brien 1970:14-19).
In this book, O’Brien also compares the main characters in Camus’ works, Caligula in Caligula, Meursault in The Stranger and Sisyphus in The Myth of Sisyphus. Meursault, as well as Caligula and Sisyphus are considered as the
absurd hero. Yet, in fact, the strategy that was used to build these three characters is slightly different. Caligula is described as a ruthless person, similar with a monster, while in building Meursault’s character, Camus led the reader to give sympathy to Meursault. Although in the story Meursault killed a person, the reader will not really aware of his cruelty because the act of killing is not clearly seen. Another strategy is applied in Sisyphus. He is described as a fool, someone who does a foolish thing, who accepts his absurd task to roll a rock to the top of mountain. His integrity as a human being is shown in his willingness to do the absurd task (O’Brien 1970:29).
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The works above are the studies that have been conducted related to Camus’ works, especially his novel, The Stranger. These studies are mainly concerned with Camus’ ideas and the main character’s significance. Nevertheless, the minor characters’ significance also becomes the object of study. Almost all of these studies are studies on existentialism.
In this thesis, the writer tries to give a more specific study on existentialism. The writer aims to reveal the ideas of existentialism in the novel. The main character’s characteristic is explored since he becomes Camus’ means to deliver his ideas of existentialism. The focus of this study is to reveal the ideas of existentialism that can be taken from the novel through the main character.
B. Review of Related Theories
In this part the writer will state the theories that will be used in the analysis. The theories are; the theory of character, the theory of characterization and the theory of existentialism.
1. Theories of Character
M. H. Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms, points out that “Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral and disposition qualities that are expressed in what they say- the dialogue- and by what they do-the actions” (1981: 20).
It means that characters in a story show moral and natural qualities of mind through their dialogue and the action in the story.
she is the most important character in the story. Usually, the acts of the story are focused on this character from the beginning until the ending parts. The core of the story is highlighted through this characters experience.
While minor character is a character that appears in a certain setting, just necessarily to become the background for the major characters. Their roles are less important than the major character because they are not fully developed characters and their roles in a story are just to support the development of the major character (Abrams, 1981:20).
Characters are also divided into two types based on the internal complexity; they are flat character and round character. A flat character is presented without many individualizing details, and therefore can be adequately described in a single phrase or sentence. It also can be “a single idea or quality.” A round character is complex in temperament and motivation and is presented with subtle particularity. He is as difficult to describe with any adequacy as a person in real life is and like most people, he is capable of surprising us (Abrams, 1981: 20). Characterized by one or two traits, flat characters can be written in a sentence to describe whether they are good or bad character. It makes flat character not fully developed. Round characters are complex and multi sided in their temperament so that the characters have more proportion for their development.
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character is one who changes little. Things happen to such a character without things happening within. The pattern of action reveals the character rather than showing the character changing in response to the actions. Sometimes a static character gives the appearance of changing simply because our picture of the character is revealed bit by bit. Secondly, a dynamic character is one who is modified by actions and experiences, and one objective of the work in which the character appearance is to reveal the consequences of these actions (Holman & Harmon, 1986: 83). To judge whether they are static or dynamic is not only based on the changing in a condition or little changing in opinion, but there is a process to make the changing.
2. Theories of Characterization
M.J. Murphy (1972: 161-173) suggests nine ways in which the author attempts to make his characters understandable and lifelike for his reader. Those nine ways to characterize a character are discussed as follows.
Firstly is by analyzing the character’s personal description. In this way the writer characterizes the character by seeing a character from his physical appearance such as his build, his face, his skin, his eyes, his hair or his clothes.
Secondly, by analyzing from another character’s point of view or character as seen by another. A character can be analyzed through another character’s eyes and opinions to describe the character that the writer wants to expose.
speech. The reader can also see the conversation in which the character is involved; the way he or she gives his or her opinion may also show the personality of the character.
Fourthly, by considering the character’s past life, the readers are made known of some important clues to get to know about the character. It can be described by the author’s direct comment, through the character’s thoughts, through the character’s conversation, or through the medium of another person.
Fifthly, a character could be analyzed from conversation of others; the readers can get to know a character through the conversations of other people and the things they say about him.
Sixthly, by perceiving the character’s reactions to various situations and events, an author shows his character’s tendency, and this tendency gives the readers a clue about the character’s personality.
Seventhly, a character can be characterized by the author’s direct comment and description on the character. In this way there is no medium for the author to use to characterize the character. The author directly describes the character and also gives comment on the character.
Eighthly, the thought of the character can be used to characterize the character. The author shows the character’s personality by allowing the readers to understand the deepest thought of the character in a novel.
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Another way of characterization is offered by Roberts, Edgar v and Jacobs in Fiction An Introdution to Reading and Writing, that is, a story is usually concerned with a major issue that a character must face. Characterization through dialogue, action, comments may involve interaction between a character with another character, with a difficult situation or with an idea (Robert, 1989:56).
3. Theory of Existentialism
Talking about theories on existentialism, we will find a list of philosopher names such as Soren Kierkegaard, Jean Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Heidegger, Dostoevsky and also Albert Camus. Each of the philosophers brings a different theory or concept of existentialism but indeed their thought rooted from the same philosophical question of life. Albert Camus, one of those philosophers, begins his philosophical thought by questioning the meaning of life as well as what the other philosopher does. Yet later on, their concept develops with their own uniqueness.
3.1. Existentialism View and Existentialist Literature
According to Holman and Harmon in his book, A Handbook to Literature, existentialism is:
“A Group of attitudes (current in philosophical, religious, and artistic thought during and after the second World War) that emphasizes existence rather than essence and sees the inadequacy of human reason to explain the enigma of the universe as the basic of philosophical question” (1986: 199).
According to this book, existentialism is defined as some attitudes that based on philosophy, religious and artistic thought. It exists during and after the Second World War. The thought emphasizes on human’s existence. Human’s existence is considered more prior than human’s essence. It observes the human’s inability to explain the mystery of the universe. Furthermore, the important point is human being’s awareness of their situation that they have a total freedom but at the same time they also are completely responsible for their act and decision (Holman and Harmon, 1986: 199).
Encyclopedia of world Literature also explains about existential literature. In
this book, it is stated that existential literature emphasizes on “the fact that the men are not determined priori, but ‘exist’. They are in the state of ‘becoming’ within the framework of a certain given situation, and are in the long run, what they make themselves. In this way they escape from a mechanical determination and are ‘free’ “(Steinberg and Buchaman (eds), 1973:224).
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Stanton in Introduction to Literature, states that the work of existential fiction tends to emphasize on individual isolation, how the individual can be short of identity, finds it difficult to establish a good relationship with others, and the opacity and absurdity of his work (1965:66). Meaning to say that someone who has the concept of existentialism tends to have difficulty in building a good relationship with others, lack of identity and live in isolation. Their way of living is absurd.
A different definition of existentialism is offered by John. K. Roth in his book International Encyclopedia of Ethics, he defined existentialism as;
“An approach to ethics that emphasizes individual subjectivity-freedom and responsilbility, and the irrational as primary features of human condition” (1995:294).
Another definition of existentialism is brought by Miffin in his book, The American Heritage Dictionary of English Language. It is stated that
existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human’s existence is inexplicable and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the sequences of one’s act.
This definition is quite similar with Holman and Harmon’s definition. Both emphasize on the individual uniqueness and the freedom to choose one’s own way and decision. Furthermore, one also has the responsibility of the choice he and she has taken.
existentialism, existence is considered more prior than essence. Human beings are free to choose their own way to live and have a total freedom, but at the same time they also have to be responsible of the act and the decision they make. Existentialism also sees human’s inability to explain the world condition and absurdity becomes the main characteristic of human condition.
3.2. Nietzsche’s Theory on Existentialism
Talking about existentialism cannot be separated from Nietzsche. Since his influence among existentialists is no longer questionable. Sartre, Heidegger, Jaspers and Camus are the existentialists who are influenced by Nietzsche’s thought. Camus’ Myth of Sysiphus is considered as a distant echo of Nietzsche, he also wrote about Nietzsche. Like Camus, Jaspers also wrote two books about Nietzsche and discussed him in detail in his several books. Nietzsche also becomes the first name mentioned in Sartre’s philosophic main work, L’etre et le neant. Calling Nietzsche as an existentialist is not appropriate because it
seems giving him insufficient appreciation of his full significance (Kaufman 1956: 22).
As stated above, Nietzsche has an important role among other philosophers, including Camus. It is not surprising anymore that Nietzsche’s influence can be felt in Camus’ work. In Camus’ work, The Stranger, Nietzsche’s ideas of existentialism appears.
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proclaimed himself as an atheist by instinct. His atheism provided a model for those existentialists, including Albert Camus, who wish to describe an existence, lived entirely apart from God. On his atheism, he stated that either disbelief or belief is optional attitude and this option is worthwhile to be researched (Collins, 1952:21).
An online source entitled Friedrich Nietzsche and his Philosophy of the Superman states another concept of existentialism that Nietzsche offers that is
‘Man and Superman’. What is meant by ‘Man’ is an ordinary man, man who obeys the rules surround him, who follow the value given by the society and fulfill the society’s demands. While ‘Superman’ is a term used for a man who has the ability to transgress the rules surround him. ‘Superman’ is a man who bravely performs his instinct. He or she is a person who has the ability to create his or her own value. A model of human being as Nietzsche has suggested “Do not follow me but follow yourself” (Kaufman, 1956:50). What he said means that someone has to be her or himself and has her or his own value. Being as a ‘Superman’ is the outcome of ‘Will to Power’. The power to overcome man, this power is not only power over another but also power over oneself.
3.3. Sartre’s Theory on Existentialism
As well as Nietzsche, Sartre also offered atheism. According to him, if God does not exist, everything would be permitted and man cannot find anything to depend on, except to depend on himself (Kaufman, 1956:295).
According to Sartre “man is nothing else, but what he purposes, he exists only in so far as he realizes himself, he is therefore nothing else but the sum of his action,...(Kaufman, 1956:300). It means that man will find his existence when he is fully aware of himself and what he did.
In relation to human existence, Sartre also stated that man’s existence is not determined originally, but it is built from him by the choice and commitment he made.
“man makes himself, he is not found ready-made; he makes himself by the choice of his morality…we define man only in relation to his to his commitment; it is therefore absurd to reproach us for irresponsibility in our choice (Kaufman, 1956:306 ).”
Therefore, according to Sartre, the morality or goodness is subjective based on the person’s choice and point of view. The way a man keeps his commitment is also important to show his or her existence. Meaning to say that person’s existence can be seen through his or her way to hold his or her commitment and the way he or she is responsible for the choice he or she already made.
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3.4. Camus’ Theory on Existentialism
Talking about Camus’ theories on existentialism means talking about his concept of absurdity. Camus’ concept of absurdity is rooted from the concept of existentialism. Camus’ existentialism focuses on the stage that people feel when they start to question their existence. This stage is called as absurdity. He, as well as other philosophers, begins his thought with a philosophical problem questioning the meaning of life. Whether life is worth living or not, since many people who feel that life is not worth living die by committing suicide and many others getting killed for the ideas or illusions that give them the reason for living. It seems that a reason for living is also an excellent reason for dying (Camus, 1955:4). This basic question is the starting point of Camus’ absurdity. According to Camus, absurd men do not recognize suicide; they are fully aware of absurdity, accept absurdity and live with it. Absurd men are fully aware that the place they live offers absurd things. They live within the cycle of absurdity that there is no meaning at all in this world. The best solution to stay alive is to struggle by living the absurd as long as possible.
the confrontation between human’s curiosity of clear explanation of life and inexplicable condition of the world. This confrontation is the meaning of absurd. Thus, the concept of absurd depends on men and the world.
But what is absurd is the confrontation of this irrationals and the wild longing for clarity whose call the echoes in the human heart. The absurd depends as much on man as on the world (Camus, 1955:16).
The concept of love as well as the concept of God is another aspect in the world that is absurd. According to Camus, things can be understood when the things can be touched, can be smelled and resist us (Camus,1955:38). However these two things cannot fulfill the requirements to be understood. We cannot either touch or smell love and God. Love that entirely binds us to certain creature is not permitted because this kind of love is the same as suicide. Suicide and this kind of love are forgetfulness of self (Camus, 1955:54). Meaning to say that when someone is crazily in love they will not be aware of their existence, they will depend on others. Thus they cannot liberate himself in any relationship for the sake of his existence.
As well as Nietzsche and Sartre, Camus also does not believe in God’s existence. God cannot be felt by human’s senses; God is only human’s imagination. This fact brings the idea that man is a free agent, there is nothing that can limit his acts. Concerning to God’s existence Camus stated;
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From the quotation above, Camus offers two alternatives whether a man is the one who owns the power or God is the owner of power. In the case that a man who owns the power, man is the master of his life, he is the God over himself.
4. Literature and Existentialism
Understanding the relationship between philosophy and literature will help us to find the relationship between existentialism and literature. Knight in Literature Considered as Philosophy stated,
Philosophy and literature have acted upon another in the past, but they never lost their identity in one another. Writers who were not philosophers wrote about philosophy, what they wrote was not in itself philosophy in the strict sense of the word (Knight, 1962: 175).
It is clearly seen in the quotation above the relationship between philosophy and literature. Though the author is not a philosopher, he or she brings such philosophical ideas in his or her literary work. Wellek and Warren in Theory of Literature stated, “Literature might be a reflection of philosophical ideas”
(1956:111). It means that literature becomes the tools in delivering philosophical ideas of the author.
While Rudolf Unger, in the same book, also stated that literature expresses a general attitude toward life that the author of literary work usually answers the questions which are also themes of philosophy (Wellek & Warren, 1956:115). Meaning to say that literary works are used as media to deliver certain messages about life and offer solutions concerning on philosophical questions.
during that time. There were many literary works which revealed the basis of existentialism. In post second world war, human existence becomes the central theme. During this time, many literary works, including The Stranger, brought the ideas of existentialism.
C. Theoretical Framework
In this study, it requires the theory of character and characterization since the main character takes an important role in this study. The theory of character and characterization is used to explore the characteristics of the main character and his character development. MJ Murphy’s theory of characterization will help the writer in analyzing the main character since this method of characterization is considered the most suitable method for the next discussion. Robert’s theory indicates that the characterization of the characters in the story may involve interaction with other elements such as interaction with other characters, interaction with a difficult situation or interaction with an idea. This theory will be used to show relationship between the main character’s characterizations with the ideas he brought.
Existentialism is the focus of this study. The analysis will be based on the theory of existentialism. Since Nietzsche and Sartre contributed significant influence in Camus’ thought, their theories will also be used in the analysis.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of Study
The object of this study is a novel entitled The Stranger written by Albert Camus. This work is one of Camus’ famous works. It consists of 123 pages and the story is divided into two parts. The version used in this thesis was published in Vintage International, Vintage Books, A division of Random House, INC., New York and was translated by Matthew Ward. It was published in his early career in 1942. In this time Camus was mainly concerned with existentialism issues and what he called as “absurdity” of the human condition.
According to O’Brien, The Stranger became Camus’ best known and most popular work among youngsters (O’Brien, 1970:24). Albert Camus was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1957. He became the second youngest person who received Nobel Prize.
The story The Stranger is about a man living in an absurd way. The man here is the main character named Meursault. He is an Algier. The interesting point of this character is the way he faces his life. The way he lives is really different from ordinary people. He tends to refuse the norms in the society. At the end of the story, he is sentenced to death as the result of his killing an Arab. His inability to cry when his mother passed away becomes the focus of his examination in the trial. He is considered as a dangerous person for the
residents since he gives the impression that he has no feeling of humanity. Furthermore, in the trial, he says that he finds difficulty in recognizing his own feelings. This fact makes his position becomes more difficult. When his lawyer asks him not to speak such a thing that worsens his position and asks him to say that the reason of his killing an Arab as a self-defense, he refuses. He receives this punishment, and refuses to lie in the trial in order to get his freedom. In this sense, the writer finds that there are some principles of existentialism portrayed in the main character of this novel. The ideas of existentialism portrayed in the main character of this novel will become the object of this study.
B. Approach of Study
In analyzing a literary work, it is important to obtain a deep and good understanding about the literary work itself. Therefore, it needs an appropriate approach that can help to support the analysis of the story as the material of the thesis.
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also considered to bring some philosophical issues. Therefore, it is appropriate to use Moral-Philosophical approach in this study. This approach emphasizes that the function of literature is to deliver moral teaching and explores philosophical issues within a context of the philosophical thought of a period or group (Guerin, 1979:29).
Since this undergraduate thesis concerns on philosophical issue, that is existentialism, that Camus tries to propose in his book The Stranger through its main character, this approach is considered the most appropriate approach to help the writer in the analysis.
C. Method of Study
Since this study is focused on literary work, the writer used library research to answer the problems that were already formulated in the previous chapter. It means that the writer took all the references from the library to support the analysis. In this thesis, there are two kinds of data that were used. They were primary and secondary data. The primary source was a novel entitled The Stranger, while the secondary data were several comments and critics on the
novel and the author taken from books and online articles and also some books of theories were used to support the secondary data.
Understanding Unseens were also used in order to understand the theory of
character and characterization. The writer also employed other data concerning on philosophy and literature.
Second, analyzing the data. The analysis process was done by answering the problem formulations raised in the previous chapter. Since the first problem formulation is about the main character’s characteristics, the theory of character and characterization was used. This theory was combined with the events which happened in the novel. Then, the second problem formulation was answered by giving a full attention to the main character’s charateristics that show the idea of existentialism and the way the writer delivers the idea of existentialism through the main character. In this step the theory of existentialism is used.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This undergraduate thesis concerns on the main character of the novel and his importance in delivering Camus’ ideas of existentialism. The discussion will be divided into two parts based on the problem formulation stated in the previous chapter. Firstly, this study will answer the question related to the main character’s characterization. Secondly, it will discuss about the ideas of existentialism revealed through the main character.
A. The Characterization of the Main Character.
In chapter II, it is already stated that characterization is very important in order to lead the readers to understand the story. Through the characters’ speeches, action or the author’s narration, the reader can follow the plot and understand it well. It means that characterization can help the reader to get the message or the idea brought by the story.
In the novel, The Stranger, Camus employs the main character as his means to deliver his ideas. Here, Meursault is the main character in the novel. He becomes the central of the story. The story is focused on Meursault’s character. The way he thinks and acts, his point of view and attitudes are explored in the story.
Meursault as the main character in the story is an absurd man. He absurdly sees everything surrounds him and the events he faces in his life. Therefore, it is not surprising anymore that the dominant atmosphere in the story is absurd. According to Stanton, the way a man who has an existentialism belief lives is absurd. Meaning to say that the characterization of Meursault as an absurd man proves that Meursault is Camus’ means to deliver his ideas on existentialism. In short, absurdity becomes the essential characteristic of existentialism.
In the analysis, the writer focuses on the characterization of the main character as the means to deliver the ideas of existentialism. Meursault’s characterization is very important to help the reader understand the whole story and later on to grasp the ideas Camus tries to offer.
Meursault is described as a unique person. What he does is really different from others. It can be said that the way he thinks and acts against the mainstream. He refuses the social-determined attitude. In the end of the story, his different attitude leads him to be regarded as a dangerous person for the citizen.
In order to gain deeper understanding on Meursault’s character, the discussion of Meursault’s characteristics is divided into some points.
1. Honest
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“…she wanted to know if I loved her. I answered the same way I had the last time, that it didn’t mean anything but that I probably didn’t love her ” (1942: 41).
In this case, Meursault tells the truth about his feeling. He feels that he could not feel love toward Marie. He does not want to tell a lie about his true feeling. Meursault’s inability to love Marie happens because he thinks that love is not a serious matter and that love does not mean anything in his life. His belief that love is not a serious matter is seen through his own speech; he states that love did not mean anything to him.
His honesty also appears in his mother’s death through his reaction. Meursault does not want to pretend that he was in mourning because of his mother death since he does not feel the sadness. He does not want to give false tears at his mother’s funeral. Moreover, he also does not want to see his mother for the last time before the funeral. He knows that his attitude is inappropriate according to the society. What he did does not fulfill what the society demanded.
“He stuttered a little “We put the cover on, but I’m supposed to unscrew the casket so you can see her.” He was moving toward the casket when I stopped him. He said, “You don’t want to?” I answered, “No” (1942:6).
The question appears then, why Meursault does not show any grief in the funeral. This happened because he loses his ability to recognize his own feeling. He said this fact in jail when the lawyer asked him about his feeling when his mother died.
“He asked if I had felt sadness that day…I answered that I had pretty much lost the habit of analyzing myself and that it was hard for me to tell him what he wanted to know” (1942: 65).
to act as if he was sad and depressed. Telling what he really feels to his lawyer also becomes another evidence of his honesty. Hearing this statement, the lawyer asks him not to say it in the trial. The lawyer intends to state that Meursault tends to hide his natural feeling about his mother’s death rather than show it to the people in the funeral. But Meursault refuses to tell what is not true.
“He made me promise I wouldn’t say that at my hearing or in front of the examining magistrate…he asked me is he could say that day I had held back my own natural feeling. I said, “No, because it’s not true.” ” (1942:65).
Another evidence of his honesty can be seen in the trial. When he was asked about the reason of his killing an Arab, he said that he never plans to kill the Arab, the reason of his action, killing the Arab, is because of the sun. At that moment the sun was so hot. The glare of the sun burned Meursault’s body. Meursault could not stand to stay still in the hot sun. Then he put his revolver and shot the Arab as his reaction toward the glare of the sun. He tends to be honest to say what really happens that there is no certain motive of his action rather than telling a lie. Even though he has the chance to defend himself by stating that his action as a form of self-defense since the Arab brings a knife.
2. Brave
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position as the suspect of the murder becomes worse. After listening to his statement, all the audience laughed. Afterwards his lawyer asks for a break since he realizes that Meursault’s statement will worsen Meursault’s own position. It proves that Meursault is the one who must be responsible for the murderer.
Another evidence that shows his bravery is seen at the end of the story. At last, Meursault was sentenced to death. His death penalty is done by cutting his head off in the public square. In the last sentences he shows his bravery by saying:
“I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate” (1942:123).
In this quotation, it is clearly seen that Meursault faces his death bravely. To get his head cut off, moreover in front of many people, is a tragic thing to happen. But he faces his tragic death bravely. It also proves his acceptance of the punishment as the consequences of killing the Arab. He is also ready for the possibility that there will be a lot of people who mocked him and yelled hateful things to him.
3. Atheist
killing a person. When talking about God, Meursault responds it indubitably; he strongly said that he does not believe in God.
“…and asking me if I believed in God. I said no. He sat down indignantly. He said it was impossible; all men believed in God, even those who turn their backs on him” (1942:69).
It is obvious that he does not believe in God, that he is an atheist. He is fully aware of his statement; there is no doubt in his statement.
He also states his atheism when the chaplain visits him in jail. He has refused the chaplain’s visit for three times. In the fourth time he also refused the visit, but the chaplain insists on seeing him without his permission. The chaplain asks him the reason why he does not want to see him. He says that it is because he does not believe in God (1942:116).
He refuses to discuss about god and asks the chaplain to leave him since he does not want to waste his time talking about God.
“ 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 had only a little time and I didn’t want to waste it on God…”(1942:120)
Then, he criticizes the chaplain about his belief. He thinks that the chaplain seems so certain about everything but indeed he was not sure at all.
“He seemed so certain about everything, didn’t he? …he wasn’t even sure he was alive, because he living as a dead man…but I was sure about everything, surer that he could ever be, sure of my life, and sure of the death I was waiting for me” (1942:120)
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another thing. His statement really shocks the chaplain. He gets depressed and leaves the cell with his eyes full of tears.
4. Independent
By his own action and speech, Meursault shows himself as an independent man. He does not want to depend his life on someone else. There are two things that people usually depend their life on. They are; God and other human beings. Unlike the others, Meursault tends to rely his life on himself. He refuses dependence.
His independence towards God can be seen in his belief on atheism. People usually depend on God when there is no way out of their problem. They tend to leave their burden of life in God’s hand. However, Meursault does not do the same thing. Although he is trapped in a difficult condition, he remains on being dependent. When the magistrate comes to him to persuade him to ask for God’s help and rely on Him, he refuses the offer. According to Meursault, to depend on God or not is a choice. The magistrate’s choice is to depend his life on God, but it is also Meursault’s choice to be independent from God (1942:69).
Another evidence of his independence is seen through his relationship with Marie. Generally, people who are in love are automatically dependent on their lover. The example is Perez’s relationship with Meursault’s mother. When Meursault’s mother died, Perez gets so depressed. He is so sad of losing his lover and has no willing to stay alive. It is clearly seen that a person who is in love is dependent on the one he loves. On the contrary, Meursault does not do the same thing. He does not want to depend his life on Marie, his lover. Unlike the effect of Perez’s lover’s death, the possibility of Marie’s death did not affect Meursault. He said, “Remembering Marie meant nothing to me. I wasn’t interested in her death” (1942:115). His statement proves that Marie’s existence does not affect him. It shows that Meursault has an absolute independence.
As well as Marie, the presence of Meursault’s mother does not make him being dependence. His mother’s death does not change anything in his life. His mother’s death is an ordinary thing to him. It is seen in the beginning of the novel.
“ Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know. I got a telegram from the home: “Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.” That doesn’t meant anything. Maybe it was yesterday” (1942:3).
This quotation shows that his mother’s death is not a serious matter for him. It seems that it is just an ordinary message, not a shocking message. He responds it calmly and does not get depressed.
5. Responsible
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his own speech, “All they had told me that I was guilty. I was guilty, I was paying for it, and nothing more could be asking from me” (1942:118). His speech proves that he is a responsible man. He takes the consequences of his action, killing the Arab, and is willing to pay for his action by accepting his punishment.
6. A man who breaks social value
Meursault is a man who breaks social values. He refuses the social determination. He often acts differently from other people. His point of view and attitudes are often contradictory from other people normally have.
His being different is seen in his attitudes at his mother’s funeral. He refuses to see his mother’s dead body. Although he knows that it breaks the social tradition, he insists on doing it. The thing that people commonly want to do when the one they love departed is seeing the dead body for the last time, but Meursault refuses to do it.
“…but I’m supposed to unscrew the casket so you can see her.” He was moving to the casket when I stopped him. He said, “You don’t want to?” I answered “No.” he was quiet and I was embarrassed because I felt I shouldn’t have said that.” (1942:6).
This quotation shows that actually Meursault knows that his refusal to see his mother dead body is unusual and it breaks society’s tradition. Moreover, during the vigil Meursault even smokes and offers the caretaker a cigarette.
Although Meursault realizes that smoking in front of the departed is considered impolite in his society, he still does it. He thinks that smoking in front of the departed is not a problem.
After the funeral, swimming becomes his choice to be done. There he meets Marie, a former typist in his office. Then he even asks Marie to watch a movie, a comedy movie and makes love with her in his apartment (1942: 19-21). These activities surprise Marie because he has just lost his mother. His action is uncommon and unacceptable since what he does is contradictory with what people traditionally do when they have lost the one they love. Usually people still have not recovered from their sadness yet and cannot do other activities.
Another proof that he is a man who tends to break social value is his disbelief in God’s existence. People traditionally believe in God’s existence, and considere that God has to be respected and obeyed. God is the ruler of everything, including human being, and owns the power over everything in the universe. However, Meursault thinks differently. He believes that to believe or not in God is a choice, it is not a must. His disbelief towards God is absolutely opposing the social standard.
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Furthermore, he does not show any sign of remorse when he was asked about his action, he said, “I didn’t feel any remorse for what I’ve done” (1942:100).
His statement that he does not feel any remorse of his action is considered as a proof that he is man of no feeling, a cold-blooded man, who might endanger the citizen. Through his action and speech, it is obvious that Meursault is a man who tends to break social value. He is aware of what he has done and he is really sure about it.
In short, Meursault is a unique man. He is different from men in general. His uniqueness is seen from his attitudes and point of view. His view towards death, love and God is different from others. His naked honesty that is so pure about his own feeling is also a proof of his uniqueness, though in fact his honesty endangers his life he still keeps it as long as it is the truth. It means that he is also a man that highly values a truth. On the other hand, he is a man who does not have the feeling of humanity that is seen through the action of killing other people without certain motive. Furthermore he does not have any remorse of what he had done. But he is also a good friend. He often expreses his sympathy to his friend who was in sadness, as what he had done towards Salamono when he lost his dog. Meursault tries to make him feel better and shows his sympathy. Meaning to say that in spite of his action of killing someone else, he is also a good person. A responsible person who takes the consequences of what he had done.
sure about his mind and action. He never feels any remorse or sorry for what he had done because he thinks that he does the right thing. In other words, he has his own value and belief.
B. The Ideas of Existentialism Revealed through the Main Character
Albert Camus is a philosopher who is famous with his ideas on existentialism. He is also known as an absurdist because of his absurd theory on existentialism. It is not surprising anymore that his work is always connected with existentialism. Camus’ existentialism focuses on human being’s condition when they start to question the meaning of life and his or her existence. On this stage, human being will feel the feeling of absurd. It is what so called as absurdity.
In his work, The Stranger, Camus offers his ideas on existentialism. The Stranger is a story about a man who lives in absurdity. The main character in this story absurdly lives his life. He does not feel sad when his mother died. Furthermore, the day after the funeral, he goes to swim, watches a movie with a girl and has sex. At the end of the story the main character even kills a person as the response of the glare of the sun. He does not have certain motive in killing the person. He also does not have remorse of killing the person.
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the main character in The Stranger as the representation of his thought. The ideas of existentialism in the story are seen in the way Meursault’s view on others and his environment, his response to the events he faces and his attitudes that are absurd. Through Meursault’s speech, act and other’s point of view towards him, Camus delivers his ideas on existentialism.
The following discussion is mainly focused on Camus’ ideas on existentialism as revealed through the main character in The Stranger. The discussion is divided into some subtopics in order to give a more detailed explanation.
1. Meursault’s view towards God
As discussed in the first part of the analysis, Meursault is described as a man who does not believe in God’s existence. He is a man who lives with atheism belief. He believes that a man does not need anything else to help him running his life. A man has to depend his life on himself not on another. Though people commonly depend their life on God by living religious belief, Meursault chooses to have his own belief. He lives apart from God’s existence and prefers not to have a religion.
Here Camus intentionally created Meursault’s character as a unique character. Meursault’s character is different and opposing other characters. The contradiction is used purposely in order to deliver Camus’ ideas. Meursaults is used as Camus’ tool to convey his ideas about atheism belief.
because no one can feel God’s existence. God cannot be touched or smelled (1955:16). Therefore, it is absurd to believe in God’s existence since no one can either touch or smell God.
In the story, Camus describes Meursault as someone who is responsive towards human’s senses. His sensitivity to human’s senses often appears in the story. One of them is found when his mother was buried.
“All of it-the sun, the smell leather and horse dung from the hearse, the smell varnish and incense, my fatigue after a night without sleep making it hard for me to see and think straight” (1942:59).
It is obvious that the hot feeling of the sun and the stinky smell of the leather and horse dung can be felt strongly by him. The hot feeling also becomes Meursault’s motive to kill the Arab. The sun at the beach when the incident happened was very hot. It burned Meursault’s body and as the response towards the glare of the sun, he kills the Arab.
“The sun was starting to burn my cheeks, and I could feel drops of sweat gathering in my eyebrow. The sun was as the same it had been in the day I’d buried Maman,…all I could feel were the cymbals of sunlight crashing on my forehead…my whole being tensed and I squeezed my hand around the revolver”(1942:59).
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By using Meursault’s characteristic of being sensitive towards the senses, Camus wants to emphasize that what exists is something which is able to be felt and what is absurd is something that cannot be felt. In fact, God is something that neither can be smelled nor can be touched. It means that God is something absurd that does not exist. Camus confronted the concept of God and the human’s senses in order to make the difference between what exists and what does not. Meursault’s in the story is a man who does not believe in God. By seeing his sensitivity towards the senses, it can be concluded that the reason why Meursault does not believe in God’s existence is because God cannot be felt by human’s senses.
Furthermore, according to Meursault, a man who depends his life on God is a man who is not sure about himself so that he has to depend his life on God. His statement is seen in his speech when the chaplain suggests him to give his life to God.
“He seemed so certain about everything, didn’t he? …he wasn’t even sure he was alive, because he living as a dead man…but I was sure about everything, surer that he could ever be, sure of my life, and sure of the death I was waiting for me” (1942:120)
His refusal to depend his life on God and his statement that a man who believes in God is not sure about himself shows his absolute independence. He sees that a man who is not sure about himself is a man who has lost his existence, while Meursault is a man who is really sure about everything he does.
In The Stranger, Sartre’s view on God is seen in the plot when Meursault kills the Arab, people regards him as someone who does not have humanity. The minor characters in the story, the chaplain and the magistrate, recommended him to ask for God’s forgiveness for what he has done.
Meursault’s action to kill the Arab is used by Camus to convey Sartre’s view on God. As a person who denies God’s existence, Meursault is free to do what he wants to do because there is nothing that limits his freedom. Different from other characters’ point of view, represented by the chaplain and the Magistrate, killing is a crime and considered as a sin in religious belief, while Meursault thinks that his action is not a serious matter. This diversity in seeing the act of killing happened because of the influence of their view towards God. By seeing these two opposing views about the act of killing, it is obvious that people who believe in God’s existence have limited freedom, while people who do not believe in God’s existence have unlimited freedom.
This diversity in possessing freedom happens because of the existence of God through religious belief. The religious belief has some rules that must be obeyed by the follower. The concept of sin is used to limit the follower’s freedom. Therefore, it is obvious that the existence of God through religious belief is the limitation of one’s freedom.
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themselves. A total freedom is gained when God does not exist. This concept is inspired by Nietzsche. Nietzsche also stated that either belief or disbelief are optional attitudes (1952:21). Nietzsche’s influence in Camus’ existentialism is clearly seen through Meursault’s speech when the magistrate tries to make him believe in God. According to Meursault, to depend on God or not is a choice. It is the magistrate’s choice to depend his life on God, but it is also his choice not to depend on God (1942:69).
2. Meursault’s view towards love
The concept of love is also being explored in the story. Through Meursault’s view towards love, Camus wants to convey his ideas about love and offers a model of attitudes towards love. Camus states that love can blind people’s mind and make people forget their own existence (1955:54).
Meursault as the main character in the story has a unique attitude towards his lover. He is described as someone who seems to ignore his lover. It is proven in his statement that he does not love Marie.
“…she wanted to know if I loved her. I answered the same way I had the last time, that it didn’t mean anything but that I probably didn’t love her ” (1942: 41).
