What Message do you Get From “The Outsider?”

Answer

What message do you get from “The Outsider?” [NU: 2018] ★★★

Albert Camus’s (1913–1960) “The Outsider” (1942) gives a powerful message about life. The hero Meursault lives in Algiers. He does not follow society’s rules. Through his mother’s death, the murder, and his trial, we learn deep truths about existence.

Life is Absurd: From the beginning, Meursault shows life’s absurdity. He says, 

“Mother died today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I can’t be sure.”

At Marengo, he drinks coffee and smokes near the coffin. He does not cry. Society sees him as heartless. Later, he says, 

“Mother now was buried, and tomorrow I’d be going back to work as usual.”

This teaches us that life and death are uncertain. Life is absurd.

Society is Hypocritical: At Masson’s beach house, Meursault kills the Arab. He says, 

“It was because of the sun.”

But at the trial, the court forgets the crime. The Director, the Caretaker, and Marie Cardona all speak about the funeral. The Prosecutor calls him a monster. He is judged not for murder but for not crying at his mother’s death. This gives the message that society punishes differences more than crime. Society values false emotion over truth.

Freedom Comes from Accepting Death: In prison, Meursault rejects religion. The Chaplain asks him to pray. He shouts, 

“I didn’t believe in God.”

He accepts death calmly. He feels the world’s gentle indifference. This message is strong. Life has no fixed meaning. But if we accept death and meaninglessness, we find peace and freedom.

“The Outsider” gives three main messages. Life is absurd. Society is hypocritical. Freedom comes from accepting death as truth. Meursault becomes an outsider, but he also becomes free. Camus shows that meaning is not given by others. It is created by ourselves.