52 Views
Literature Xpres
0
Literature Xpres Menu

The Outsider : Characters

Shape Shape

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.

Characters

Major Characters

  • Meursault: The protagonist and narrator of the novel. An ordinary office clerk, he is emotionally detached and viewed by society as isolated. He shows no grief at his mother’s death. On the beach, he kills an Arab youth. At the trial, his indifference weighs more heavily than his crime. His character symbolizes Camus’s philosophy of the “Absurd.”
  • Marie Cardona: Meursault’s lover. She is cheerful and affectionate. The day after his mother’s death, she goes swimming with him and watches a comedy at the cinema. She proposes marriage, but Meursault shows no deep feelings for her. Her character represents human desire and ordinary life.
  • Raymond Sintès: Meursault’s neighbor and friend. A suspicious figure, rumored to be a pimp. He abuses his former mistress. The Arab youth is her brother. Meursault accompanies him to the beach, where the killing takes place. His character reflects the violence and hypocrisy of society.
  • The Arab: Brother of Raymond’s former mistress. He tries to attack Raymond. He is killed by Meursault on the beach. His presence shifts the direction of the story.

Minor Characters

  • Meursault’s Mother: She dies at the beginning of the novel. Meursault’s behavior at her funeral becomes the central point of judgment.
  • Thomas Pérez: A close friend of Meursault’s mother. He attends the funeral and collapses in grief. He symbolizes emotion and humanity, in contrast to Meursault’s detachment.
  • Emmanuel: Meursault’s colleague. Occasionally spends time with him (such as going to the cinema). His role in the story is minor.
  • The Magistrate: Oversees Meursault’s case. He asks religious questions and finds Meursault’s atheism unacceptable.
  • The Prosecutor: Takes a harsh stance against Meursault. Uses his indifference to his mother’s funeral as evidence of guilt.
  • The Defense Lawyer: Defends Meursault, but ultimately fails to save him from the death sentence.
  • The Chaplain: Urges Meursault to return to faith. But Meursault rejects religion and embraces the absurd meaninglessness of life.
  • Céleste: A restaurant owner where Meursault often eats. He comforts Meursault after his mother’s death. Represents a small token of human kindness.
  • Salamano: An old neighbor of Meursault. Always seen with his sick and ugly dog. Though he mistreats the dog, he is devastated when it goes missing. He symbolizes human contradiction, loneliness, and dependency.
  • Masson: Friend of Raymond Sintès. Hosts Meursault and Raymond at his beach house. Open and hospitable, yet the beach near his home becomes the site of the fatal conflict and the Arab’s death.