At the end of The Stranger, one line caught my attention. This line was “I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother” which was Meursault describing how he feels like he is a brother to the universe. I see this in an even more drastic case than Meursault puts it, I see that in many ways, Meursault is the same as the Universe.
For one, people hearing about Meursault’s case view Meursault’s murder of the Arab much in the way that they view someone dying from natural causes in one key way; they want to know why. The people try to give reason to the life Meursault took in the same way that they try to give reason to a life that the Universe takes, they don’t want to accept that there is really no reasoning. It is all arbitrary, but people do not find that comforting so they try to give answers. Yet, neither the universe nor Meursault have answers to offer.
As well, Meursault goes through his life mostly observing without significant opinion on what other people are doing. This is like he way that the Universe could be said to be impassive to the life of the world. Meursault is also is several times impassive towards bad things that Raymond does, for instance when he doesn’t call the police when he hears Raymond beating his girlfriend. The universe could also be impassive towards bad things that people do and are not brought to justice for the same as Meursault does in relation to Raymond.
The way that Meursault deals with his mother’s death is very similar to the way that the universe “deals with” any death; the universe just moves on without any thought. The planets still turn, the people of earth still go about their daily lives. To people who are grieving a loss like this, it might seem insensitive or incorrect how little the world stops after such a seemingly important event, but this is simply how the world operates. Comparatively, this is simply how Meursault operates. People don’t want this to be true because it seems insensitive, but Meursault and the universe do not stop their continuance for death.
I think in general the way that Meursault operates and the way the universe operates are very similar, especially in the way that people view actions not taken. Do you think this comparison is meaningful in how we view Meursault? Are there other ways in which Meursault is like the universe?
I like this idea! This ties in to the existentialist idea of an meaningless indifferent universe. Perhaps Camus used Meursault in this way to warn of what would happen to a person if they didn't follow the existentialist philosophy and didn't create meaning in life for themselves--they become as indifferent as the universe, and are ultimately destroyed.
ReplyDeleteWhoa!! You just blew my mind a little. The idea that Meursault is the embodiment of an uncaring and indifferent universe is incredible and horrifying. Incredible, because it explains the lack of explanation and justification Meursault has for his actions. Like the universe, Meursault does what he does and doesn't look back. It's also horrifying because this uncaring nature is often cruel.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting idea that I haven't considered before. You bring up some good points that do seem to fit, such as Meursault's indifference and insensitivity to things we would get emotional over. If Meursault is some representation of the universe, then I'm curious as to what the ending means, with his trial and execution. I don't think it'd be correct to interpret it as society condemning the universe, right? Or maybe, yes, you could see it as that, and that just shows how it's ultimately futile even if they do despise him, since he's accepted his death?
ReplyDeleteLike, you can hate the universe and its cold indifference all you want, but it doesn't change things, since it doesn't care?
DeleteI totally see a similarity between Meursault and the universe, this is a really interesting idea! Meursault is definitely indifferent to a lot of things that someone should normally care about just like the universe! Meursault also takes life into his own hands a couple of times by killing the Arab or agreeing to help Raymond, which feels like he is becoming the universe for those moments in order to drastically change other peoples lives.
ReplyDelete