How does Camus make his readers retain sympathy for Meursault despite his crime and lack of repentance?
The Outsider is a notable literary work by Albert Camus. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Outsider.
Answer
How does Camus make his readers retain sympathy for Meursault despite his crime and lack of repentance?
Albert Camus’s (1913-1960) The Outsider (1942) tells the story of Meursault, a man who kills an Arab on a sunny beach and later faces execution. At first, he seems cold, emotionless, and indifferent. Yet, through the story, Camus makes readers feel sympathy for him. Meursault’s honesty, loneliness, and his quiet search for truth make him more human than the society that judges him. Camus presents him not as a villain but as an existential hero who tries to create his own meaning in a meaningless world.
Meursault’s Honest Nature: One of the main reasons readers sympathize with Meursault is his complete honesty. He never pretends to feel emotions he does not truly feel. For example, at his mother’s funeral, he does not cry. He feels tired from the long journey and the heat. He admits,
“I probably did love Maman, but that didn’t mean anything.”
This may sound heartless, but it shows that Meursault refuses to lie. Most people in society hide their true feelings to appear kind or moral, but Meursault speaks the truth. His honesty makes him seem innocent in a world full of pretenders. Camus uses this honesty to show that Meursault is pure in his own way — he does not fake love, sorrow, or guilt.
His Isolation and Loneliness: Camus also makes readers feel pity for Meursault because of his deep loneliness. He has no real friends or family connections. His mother’s death leaves him emotionally alone. His relationship with Marie is simple and physical, not romantic. Even during his trial, no one stands by him.
When the court discusses his life, he feels like a stranger watching his own story. This feeling of isolation makes readers see him as a helpless person rather than a cruel murderer. His loneliness is not his fault—it is the result of a world that cannot accept someone different.
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