The Outsider – Albert Camus
Albert Camus presents ideas of identity and the human condition in his classic novel The Outsider, through his exploration of gender and cultural representations as well as an insight into absurdum and existentialism. These concepts of identity and the human condition reflect on the society in which the novella has been set, demonstrating how women, those of other cultures and those who are considered to be different are represented. The novella tells a recollection of events of a young man named Meursault, emotionally detached from a society where he refuses to conform to society’s conventions and in turn a refusal to ‘play the game’. The novella begins with the death of Meursault’s mother and ends with his own, his execution for the guiltless murder of an Arab man. Meursault’s refusal to play the game and willingness to live by his own set of rules is what has him condemned in the end.
In the patriarchal society known to the characters of The Outsider by Albert Camus, gender ideologies are explored. In the novella, men are represented as the dominant, powerful gender while women are represented as weak and undermined. It is through the character of Meursault’s girlfriend Marie, that the idea of gender identity is revealed. When Meursault is arrested for the murder of the Arab man, Marie is called to court as a witness to the crime, as well as been questioned for her own character. At the court case, instead of Marie being asked for her recollection of the events that took place on the night of the murder, she is interrogated about her relationship with Meursault, in particular her sexuality. ‘He therefore asked Marie to describe the day on which I had intercourse with her’ (page 90) The judge and the jury manipulate the information given from Marie creating the illusion that she is rather promiscuous and uses her sexuality to get what she wants, casting her an unreliable witness and thus any positivity towards Meursault’s case is brushed away. This act of dismissal from someone of authority, displays how women are undermined in this society.
Gender is also represented in the novella through the character of Meursault’s friend, Raymond, in which he displays ideas of a male dominated society. Raymond presents this idea of male dominance through his relationship with his girlfriend, through the violent acts he commits towards her. He beats her if she does not obey his commands and treats her if she is a much lesser person compared to him. The idea of male dominance is amplified when a police officer is called to the scene of a violent domestic between the couple. When the officer arrives and sees Raymond in her condition after being beaten he sends her home without word of what had happened. He then informs Raymond to wait to be called for questioning. ‘He was to wait in is room until he was summoned to the police station’ (page 39). The policeman’s actions towards the situation, shows what little importance violence towards women has on this society. Raymond’s actions would be seen to at a later date rather than be addressed at the time of incident which portrays the idea that women are of very little importance.
Camus presents ideas of identity in his classic novella The Outsider through cultural representations. The novella is set in French colonial Algeria where the French run the country leaving the Arab population is condemned for a life of unacceptance and division. The language contained within the novella, particular the language of the protagonist Meursault defines how culture is represented in society. Meursault is always in touch with his senses, taking note of the world around him, always creating vivid images of the weather, the sun, all the physical aspects of the world in which he lives. This however is not the case for Meursault when it comes to the people around him. Meursault doesn’t often comment on those around him except when it comes to culture. ‘There was an Arab nurse’ (page 12) ‘I noticed two Arabs’ (page 54) ‘The Arabs where advancing’ (page 54). This constant reorganisation of the Arab culture when other cultures are not mentioned creates a division between the two cultures. The culture references in the novella show how culture is represented in society. Those in control leave the culture that is not in control isolated and divided.
Death plays a major role in the novella The Outsider. The story both begins and concludes with a death, creating the idea that death is all a part of the human condition; we all die in the end, which reveals Camus’ own ideologies of absurdism. Death is explored through the structure of the novella, through the parallels between the death of Meursault’s mother in the beginning and the lead up to his execution in the end. When Meursault’s, he shows what most would consider an unusual reaction to the death of a love one and accepts it. He shows little emotion to the subject and demonstrates his understanding of death, it is part of our human condition and he has no control over it. ’It’s not my fault’ (page 9). Majority of this absurdist content is addressed as Meursault awaits his execution in his prison cell. Whilst sitting there one evening, his thoughts wonder to the memory of Marie, as he tried to reason why she hadn’t written to him. It crossed his mind that she may be ill or dead, and again like with his mother, feels no emotion towards the possible death of his girlfriend. ‘It was the natural order of things… I wasn’t interested in her anymore if she was dead’ (page 110). Meursault sees life as nothing more than a lead up to death. He understands that life in inevitable and that there is nothing that can b done to stop it, and because of his great understanding of life and death, he accepts and embraces it. ‘I hadn’t done one thing whereas I had done another. So what? It was as if I had been waiting all along for this very moment… Nothing mattered and I knew why’ (page 115). Meursault is an absurd hero both on a figurative and a literal level. On a figurative level, as Meursault waits for his condemned death at his execution is shows that death is the only true part of our human condition, the only thing that is constant in our lives. On a literal level, Meursault represents the characteristics of an absurdist, ideologies of rebellion, freedom of self and true understanding of life and death.
In all existential thinking, there is underlying assumption that there is an absence of a god and an afterlife, therefore no real meaning to life itself. This existential thinking is the case for Meursault in Camus’ novella The Outsider. Meursault has no faith. He does not believe in god nor even at his time of death, does he wish to participate in the belief of a greater being. During the days in the lead up to his execution, Meursault is visited daily by the prison chaplain, each time asking if Meursault wished to find God in his last few days of living. And each time the chaplain arrives, Meursault casts him away in refusal to profess a faith he does not believe in. One night, not long before the date of Meursault’s execution the chaplain visits Meursault once again, and is finally let to sit and talk with him. He asked why for so long Meursault had refused to see him and he replies that it is because his lack of faith. The chaplain tries to get Meursault to admit his beliefs that all people, especially those faced with death have faith somewhere within them. But Meursault stays strong in with himself and admits that not now nor ever has he had any hope that there is a God. ‘Have you really no hope at all’… ‘yes’(page 112) Meursault challenges societies beliefs that religion is all important and that it must be followed. He goes against social constructions as a way to show that he lives by his own rules and wishes not to conform to a society he does not see fit to follow.
The Outsider by Albert Camus, give philosophical insight into ideas of the identity of gender and culture, and human conditioning of existentialism and absurdism. These ideas are presented through the protagonist Meursault and his characterisation and interactions with the world around him. The concepts explored reflect on the society in which the novella has been set, demonstrating how women, those of other cultures and those who are considered to be different are represented. Meursault’s detachment from society and his refusal to satisfy societies unspoken rules is what makes him an outsider.
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