Existentialism in The Stranger

            The Stranger by Albert Camus gives us a personal insight into the mind of what most people would consider a true existentialist. We quickly learn that Meursalt our main character and narrator is an extremely subjective and indifferent as to what happens all around him. His emotionless reaction makes the reader questions the true nature of someone like Meursalt. Albert Camus immediately strikes an interesting tone by opening the novel with this sentence: “MOTHER died today. Or maybe, yesterday; I can’t be sure.” (1). The lack of grief displayed by Mersault suggests he is rather unfazed by this event, one that most people would consider a tragedy. Existentialism would have us believe that life and pretty much anything we do is pointless as in the end we are all going to die. To me it would seem as though Mersault agrees with this notion, not only demonstrated by his attitude towards the passing of his mother but also by his all around outlook on life. By this point it has been made clear that Mersault is quite different from most. This not only applies to his way of thinking but his habits as well. Take this quote for example: “now that I was by myself it was too large and id moved the dining table into my bedroom… the rest of the flat was never used, so I didn’t trouble to look after it.” (15) The depths of Meursalt´s existentialist persona is in a way reflected by his apartment. Everything about Meursalt does not suggest his concern for his future or basically anything for that matter. Meursalt is truly in every way a “stranger”