The Stranger Essay - Introduction

In Camus’ novel The Stranger are carried along Meursault’s journey of enlightenment were we discover that he not the only stranger. We discover that to truly understand the world one must do what is best to please themselves. It is only by fulfilling one’s own satisfactions and believing in the best that life has to offer that an individual can truly discover themselves and understand who they are. Even those who think they understand themselves miss how we subject ourselves to the demands of a confirmative society  that can help us find joy but can also lower us to the depths of depression and hell.

The Stranger Essay - Conclusion

Meursault has travelled on a path of personal discovery during which he discovers himself to be a stranger to what he feels and a stranger to what is truly important in his life. He realizes that pleasing people or fitting in with their expectations is not what leads to a great life, but it is the personal disagreements that one has that leads self discovery and causes people to do things that most view as strange or different. But by being different people we make life interesting, it is the arguments and debates, annoyances and grievances, likes and dislikes that make us who we are. By standing by quietly one is muting ones own conscience and their ability to change the world around them. It is not the quite one who changes the world around them but it is the one who waves the neon banner of individuality so defiantly that it causes people to step back and look in both horror and awe.

The Stranger Essay - Transition 2

On the most simplified level Meursault realizes that what truly matters is not society’s acceptance of who your are but your own personal satisfaction of the type of life you are living and the type of person you have come to be.

The Stranger Essay - Transition 1 paragraph

Through he ‘exorcism’ Meursault unlocks emotions and by unlocking emotions he opens himself to worlds he previously could never understand. He learns to understand the concept of religion, of happiness, of joy. For the first time he understands his feelings that previously remained a complete mystery to him.

The Stranger Essay Body Paragraph 5

Meursault’s emotional awakening finally allowed him to understand the rational behind his ambivalence towards his mother’s death. He finally saw how she desired to live once more from the very beginning. That is why she was interested in a fiancée. She wanted to feel young and to once again experience the youthful joys of love that could carry you from the pits of pain up to the lofty heights of cloud 9.  And to some extend she achieved a momentary return to youth allowing her to spend her final days with a fulfillment and a satisfaction with her life. Her joy towards the end of life (I would never feel sorry quote) because she finished her life content and that was all that mattered. Manman defied what society declared was the appropriate actions for the elderly, taking her personal joy and happiness as superior to the demands that people place upon her. Because she embraced the silent joyful rebellion and ended her life blissfully Meursault could not possibly feel sorry for an individual who was content with the end.