Vicnaire 1

Jacob Vicnaire
Darth Couillard
English Period 5
27 May 2014
Albert Camus: Existentialist or Absurdist?
After reading Albert Camus book, The Stranger, essentially all people come to the
conclusion that Camus is an Existentialist. The Stranger is about a man named Meursault that
seems detached from the outside world. He seem appears like a neutral person until he kills a
man for what seems like no reason. He does not come to the conclusion that he should be sorry
for what he has done. I believe, contrary to popular belief, that he Camus is an Absurdist.
One must have a better understanding of both philosophies to make an opinion on
Camus standpoint. Existentialism is centered around human existence and the place of a God in
this existence. Existentialists wonder what is actually good and evil and wonder why we exist,
yet, never come to a conclusion to this inquiry. Mikel Dufrenne states that Existentialism
suggests existence, hence its name (Dufrenne 52). Absurdism is much darker than
Existentialism.
The Absurdists view of human existence is much more bleak than the Existentialists
view of our purpose here in the universe. Absurdists believe that life and the universe are
illogical and trivial. As the Merriam-Webster Dictionary explains it, Absurdism is a philosophy
based on the belief that the universe is irrational and meaningless and that the search for order
brings the individual into conflict with the universe . The Absurdists view of the world is very
desolate and depressing.

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In The Stranger, Camus creates a character named Meursault. The book jumps to a
depressing start, telling the reader that his mother has died. Meursault takes this very lightly, and
is even annoyed that he had to travel to her funeral. This is odd for a person who does not hold
Absurdist views. The Absurdist is usually not bothered by death, as per the ideal that human life
is pointless. Meursault is insensitive toward death because Meursault himself is an Absurdist.
This is one of the ways that Camus exhibits the views of an Absurdist through characters he has
created. Camus created Meursault in his own image.
Another example of Camus Absurdist standpoints in this book is his tone in writing this
book. This is an excerpt from his book exemplifies his indifferent and unenthusiastic writing
style:
Marie came that evening and asked me if I'd marry her. I said I didn't mind; if she
was keen on it, we'd get married. Then she asked me again if I loved her. I replied,
much as before, that her question meant nothing or next to nothing but I
supposed I didn't.
"If that's how you feel," she said, "why marry me?" I explained that it had no
importance really, but, if it would give her pleasure, we could get married right
away. I pointed out that, anyhow, the suggestion came from her; as for me, I'd
merely said, "Yes."
Then she remarked that marriage was a serious matter. To which I answered:
"No." (28-29)
As shown in this passage from Camus book The Stranger, Camus creates a character that is
indifferent. Meursault takes a serious matter like marriage and shows his girlfriend that he really
does not care if he marries her or not because to him, it does not create a deviation. This

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exemplifies how an Absurdist feels toward things and reacts towards serious matters. Camus
shows through Meursault and his writing style that serious events do not make a difference to
him. A typical Absurdist feels this way because they accept the conception that the universe is
futile, making life pointless.
From an Absurdists standpoint, if life is pointless, then one can conclude that suicide
should be accepted. This is not true. Absurdists simply do not know if life is worth living. Camus
states There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether
life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy (Qtd.
in Schrah).
Again, we see Camus exemplifying the roots of absurdism: Indifference.
Indifference is one key point of Absurdism and Camus personality and writing style.
Does Camus take sides on the Existentialist or Absurdist debate? Camus explains . . . there is at
least one writer who, although he is often included does not really belong on the list [of
existentialists] (qtd. in Lea ). As shown here, Camus does not consider himself an Existentialist,
Nor does Jacques Ehrmann. Ehrmann explains that the fact that Camus is an Existentialist could
be readily denied (93). However, does Camus consider himself a philosopher of the absurd? He
never calls attention to the subject. What one can deduct from the evidence given about him,
however, is he displays one of the key traits of an Absurdist, and that would be indifference.
Camus beliefs and ideals riddle all of his works. A great piece of literature that
exemplifies his absurdist views is The Stranger. Why did he create this book? To start off, there
is a lot of symbolism in this book. Meursault is an Absurdist just like Camus, and this is shown
through his actions, such as killing the Arab man for seemingly no reason and showing no
remorse, which is one way that an Absurdist would react. What do the Arabs represent? The

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Arabs were there, watching Meursault and Raymond, following them and plotting to maim or
kill them. The event with the Arabs could represent critics of Camus, always trying to knock him
down.
In The Stranger, Camus expresses the fact that he does not have a concept of romantic or
platonic love. When referring to his girlfriend, Marie, he displays that he feels lust for her. He
states that Meursault kissed her; after that neither of us spoke for quite a while . . . Both of us
were in a hurry to catch the bus, get back to my place, and tumble on to the bed (Camus 24).
This excerpt from the book displays his lust for her. However, he does not love her. He also does
not care if he marries Marie, showing the key trait of Absurdism yet again. Also, when asked by
Marie if he loves her, and he came to the conclusion that he supposed [he] didn't (Camus 24).
If he does not love her, yet he has sexual relations with her, then he only feels lust. Regarding
platonic love, it seems as if he does not have any concept of it. Meursault mentions that he
Probably did love Maman1, but that didnt mean anything . . . All normal people have wished
their loved ones were dead (Camus 65). Also, when being questioned in jail, his lawyer asks
him if he held back his true feelings at Mamans funeral2, and he replied that he did not, because
he did not feel remorse for her death. This embodies the idea that Meursault, representing
Camus, has no concept of platonic love. Wishing someone dead is hatred and this is not normal,
contrary to his perception of what love is and what a normal platonic relationship is. He may not
have this concept of platonic love because his mother was deaf. Pierre Rub and Kenneth
Douglas explain that Camus mother was Silent, always silent, no lullaby escapes her lips and
she does not hear the infants gurglings (4).

1 Maman is a French word meaning Mom or Mommy

2 Meursault is not sad at the funeral. He does not cry, nor does he show remorse for his mothers death.

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Throughout the novel, Camus language and writing technique exhibits that Meursault,
who represents Camus, is indifferent toward human life and the world. Meursault is detached
from the world and even relationships with his friends and family. Meursault does not value
life as a normal person would, but rather similar to the value that an Absurdist would put on the
human entity. Meursault kills a man psychotically and spontaneously, shooting him four times
with no justification. This demonstrates Camus warped view on fatality and justice. He also has
seemingly no impression of platonic or amorous love. He does not care whether he marries his
companion. Likewise, he doesn't love her. As far as platonic love goes, he loves everyone all
the same. This would convey that, in his prospect, he felt a platonic love for the arab he killed.
That is not love, that is hate. With the evidence provided, Albert Camus can most definitely be
labeled as an Absurdist.

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Works Cited

"Absurdism". Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 20 May 2014.

Schrahe, Svenja. Albert Camus and the Myth of Sisyphus. Camus-Society. Camus Society.
2011. http://www.camus-society.com/myth-of-sisyphus.html. Web. 20 May 2014.
Camus, Albert, and Matthew Ward. The Stranger. New York: Vintage International, 1989. Print.
Dufrenne, Mikel. Existentialism and Existentialists. Philosophy and Phenomenological
Research. 26.1 (1965). 51-62. JSTOR. Web. 18 March, 2014.
Ehrmann, Jacques. Camus and the Existentialist Adventure. Yale French Studies. 25.
(1960). 93-97. JSTOR. Web. 18 March, 2014.
Lea, Simon. "Was Albert Camus An Existentialist." Albert Camus | Existentialist | Existentialism
and the Absurd. Camus Society. Web. 20 May 2014.
Pierre Rub and Kenneth Douglas. Who Was Albert Camus? Yale French Studies. 25.
(1960). 3-9. JSTOR. Web. 19 March, 2014.