When we talk about modern philosophy and literature, few books have shaken the intellectual world as much as The Stranger by Albert Camus. The novel opens with a peculiar and haunting line: “Mama died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don’t know.” This strange indifference immediately sets the tone for a work that explores the deepest questions of human life. What is the purpose of existence? Why are we here? Does life have meaning, or is it simply a meaningless cycle that ends in death?

Albert Camus, a French-Algerian writer, philosopher, and Nobel Prize laureate, used this novel to reflect on the human struggle with absurdity and the tension between nihilism and existentialism. The Stranger is not just a story of one detached man; it is a mirror of our relationship with life, meaning, and mortality.

The Story of the Stranger:

The novel is narrated by Meursault, a French Algerian clerk who embodies detachment from the world. The story begins when he receives a telegram about his mother’s death. Unlike what society expects, he reacts without grief, tears, or emotion. At the funeral, he smokes cigarettes, drinks coffee, and seems almost indifferent to the loss. His behavior shocks others, including his girlfriend Marie, who is disturbed by how quickly he returns to his routine, watching movies and spending time with her.

Soon, another character named Raymond, a violent neighbor, enters the story. Raymond asks Meursault for help in writing a letter to his mistress, with the intention of manipulating and later punishing her. Meursault, being emotionally detached, agrees without hesitation. This leads to conflict with the mistress’s brother, an Arab man, and eventually to an encounter on the beach where Meursault shoots and kills him. His justification is not anger or hatred, but something as irrational as the blazing sun and unbearable heat.

The second half of the novel takes place in the courtroom and the prison. Meursault is portrayed as a cold-hearted monster not only for killing the Arab but for showing no sorrow at his mother’s death. The trial becomes less about the murder itself and more about his character. Ultimately, he is sentenced to death, symbolizing society’s rejection of someone who refuses to conform emotionally.

The Absurd and Camus’s Philosophy:

Camus introduces us to the concept of the absurd through Meursault’s life. Absurdism suggests that human beings seek meaning in a universe that has none to offer. The world is indifferent, irrational, and silent to our cries for purpose. Yet, humans cannot stop themselves from searching for order and meaning. This contradiction creates the condition called “the absurd.”

Meursault embodies this philosophy. He is unaffected by society’s expectations, indifferent to morality, and detached from emotional norms. For him, death is inevitable, so crying, despair, or rituals around it have no significance. The novel shows that once we accept the inevitability of death and the indifference of the universe, life appears meaningless but strangely liberating.

Nihilism – The Philosophy of Nothingness:

At first glance, Meursault appears nihilistic. Nihilism is the belief that life is meaningless and rejects morality, values, and even the idea of purpose itself. In its most extreme form, nihilism sees no reason to live or act ethically because nothing matters in the end.

Within nihilism, philosophers distinguish between passive nihilism and active nihilism. Passive nihilism accepts meaninglessness with despair or indifference, often leading to hopelessness. Active nihilism, associated with Friedrich Nietzsche, embraces meaninglessness as a chance to create new values. Nietzsche encouraged individuals to destroy outdated systems of morality and construct new frameworks based on their own will and creativity.

When we read The Stranger, it is easy to mistake Meursault’s emotional detachment as passive nihilism. He does not grieve, he does not regret, and he does not seem to believe in a higher purpose. Yet Camus carefully distances his character from nihilism. Meursault does not reject life; instead, he accepts it on its own absurd terms.

Existentialism and Human Freedom:

To understand The Stranger fully, we must place it in the context of existentialism, the dominant philosophical movement in France during the 1940s. Existentialism, as defined by Jean-Paul Sartre and others, holds that life has no predetermined purpose or essence. Instead, individuals create their own essence through choices and actions. The famous existentialist phrase “existence precedes essence” means that a person exists first, and only afterward defines themselves through decisions.

Meursault illustrates several existentialist themes in the novel. His freedom is absolute he chooses to act in ways that defy societal expectations. Even at his mother’s funeral, he uses free will to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes despite social norms. In prison, he accepts his confinement, adapts to his circumstances, and stops measuring time. He does not dwell on an afterlife but instead focuses on the present moment.

Another theme is individuality. Society pressures people to conform to shared values and emotional displays, but Meursault remains true to his own detached individuality. In the end, when he wishes for a crowd to greet him with hatred at his execution, it reflects his acceptance of his unique identity, even if it means rejection by others.

Absurdism as the Middle Path:

Camus never accepted the label of existentialist, even though his works share some of its themes. Instead, he emphasized absurdism as a distinct philosophy. Absurdism differs from nihilism because it does not deny life or morality. It also differs from existentialism because it does not insist that humans must construct meaning. Instead, absurdism suggests that while life has no ultimate purpose, we can still live fully, embracing freedom, love, and small joys without pretending that they are permanent or cosmic truths.

Meursault’s realization at the end of the novel is not despair but clarity. Facing death, he understands that the universe is silent, indifferent, and infinite. Yet this realization frees him. By accepting that death will come anyway and that life has no higher purpose, he feels liberated to live authentically without illusions.

Nihilism vs Existentialism in The Stranger:

When comparing nihilism and existentialism through the lens of The Stranger, we see that Camus positions his character between these two philosophies. Meursault does not fall into hopeless nihilism because he does not reject life. Nor does he fully embrace existentialism, because he does not actively construct new values or meanings. Instead, he lives with the absurd, accepting life’s lack of meaning while still choosing to experience it.

Nihilism says: life is meaningless, and therefore nothing matters.
Existentialism says: life is meaningless, and therefore, you must create your own meaning.
Absurdism, Camus’s answer, says: life is meaningless, and yet you should embrace it as it is without illusion.

This subtle difference makes The Stranger a masterpiece that continues to inspire philosophical debates.

Conclusion:

Albert Camus’s The Stranger is more than a story about one man’s indifference to life, love, and death. It is a profound exploration of how humans confront the absurd, how they react to meaninglessness, and how they balance between nihilism and existentialism.

Camus presents Meursault not as a villain but as a man who accepts life as it truly is—unpredictable, indifferent, and finite. His lack of grief, his crime, his prison reflections, and finally his acceptance of death reveal the core of absurdism. While nihilism rejects meaning and existentialism urges us to create it, absurdism allows us to live freely without illusions.

In the silence of the universe, Camus suggests, we may not find answers, but we can find clarity. And perhaps, like Meursault, when the moment of death approaches, our acceptance of absurdity can bring us a strange sense of peace and freedom.

 

 

FAQs:

 

1. What is the main philosophical theme of The Stranger by Albert Camus?
The central theme of The Stranger is the philosophy of the absurd. Camus shows how humans naturally search for meaning in a universe that offers none. Through Meursault’s indifference to social norms and his acceptance of death, the novel explores the tension between nihilism, existentialism, and absurdism.

2. Is Meursault a nihilist in the novel?
At first, Meursault seems nihilistic because of his emotional detachment, lack of grief, and rejection of traditional morality. However, Camus distances himself from nihilism. Unlike nihilists, Meursault does not reject life. Instead, he accepts life’s absurdity and lives authentically without illusions of higher purpose.

3. How does existentialism appear in The Stranger?
Existentialist ideas are reflected in Meursault’s radical freedom and individuality. He makes choices independently of societal expectations, whether at his mother’s funeral or in prison. Existentialism teaches that life has no inherent meaning, and individuals must create it through choices. While Meursault reflects this freedom, he does not fully embrace existentialism.

4. What is the difference between nihilism, existentialism, and absurdism?

• Nihilism: Life is meaningless, so nothing matters.
• Existentialism: Life is meaningless, so individuals must create their own meaning.
• Absurdism (Camus’s view): Life is meaningless, yet we should embrace it as it is, enjoying freedom and small joys without pretending it has an ultimate purpose.

5. What lesson does Camus want readers to take from The Stranger?
Camus does not present Meursault as a villain but as a man who accepts reality without illusions. The lesson is that while life has no ultimate purpose, we can live fully, embrace freedom, and find clarity in the face of absurdity. Instead of despairing over meaninglessness, we can accept it and live authentically.