Discuss Meursault’s view of society in the novel The Outsider.

Answer

Discuss Meursault’s view of society in the novel The Outsider.

Or, “‘The Outsider’ shows how the conventions of a society can be tyrannical.” Give your views on this statement on the basis of your reading.

Albert Camus (1913–1960), in his novel The Outsider (1942), shows how society can be cruel and controlling through the life of Meursault. Meursault is different from others because he does not live according to society’s rules. He speaks the truth and does not pretend to feel emotions he does not have. This difference makes society turn against him and finally destroy him.

The novel clearly shows how society forces people to behave in certain ways. Those who refuse to follow these rules are punished and treated as outsiders. Through Meursault’s eyes, we see how society can become unfair and oppressive.

Society’s Expectations: Meursault’s problems begin when he fails to behave as people expect. At his mother’s funeral, he does not cry or show sadness. Instead, he says simply,

“Maman died today. Or yesterday, I don’t know.”

His calm and honest words shock everyone. Society believes that a good son must show deep grief. But Meursault is not pretending; he just feels differently. People around him cannot accept this difference. Later, his lack of emotional display becomes a key point in his trial. This shows how society forces people to express emotions in a fixed way and judges anyone who does not follow these emotional rules.

The Tyranny of Conformity: Throughout the story, Meursault is judged not because of the murder he commits, but because he fails to fit into society’s pattern. In the courtroom, the prosecutor talks more about Meursault’s behavior at his mother’s funeral than about the crime itself. He even says,

“When I look into a man’s face … all I see is a monster.”

To society, Meursault is not dangerous because he killed a man, but because he does not pretend to be moral or emotional. Camus shows