Albert Camus
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In his novel The Stranger, Albert Camus examines the absurd nature of human existence. The novel's protagonist Meursault is Camus' "stranger," as he is perceived as an outsider or social misfit by the society in which he lives. But many readers and critics believe that Meursault is a hero to be admired because, as Camus himself describes, "he does not play the game." Indeed, as Germaine Bree contends in her article "Heroes of Our Time: I. The Stranger," Meursault is often considered a martyr because he is punished for the fact that he refuses to conform to the social and moral norms that society imposes on him. Despite the consequences, he remains true to himself. There are some critics, however, who believe that Meursault is not quite the hero that readers hold him out to be. As Conor Cruise O'Brien discusses in his article "The Stranger," Meursault is not as committed to the truth as some commentaries describe him. In fact, he lies often in the course of the novel, only holding fast to the truth when it concerns his own emotions or opinions. Though Bree and O'Brien both present compelling arguments, it is difficult to ignore the persuasiveness of O'Brien's vision of Meursault: he is not a martyr for the truth, but instead a martyr for the integrity of his own feelings. For Bree, Meursault is heroic in nature because he is "A man content to just live and who asks no questions" (112). He is found guilty after he kills the Arab, but in reality, Meursault i
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s belief regarding God has anything to do with the prosecutor and refuses to recant. At the trial, he is found guilty of murdering the Arab, but, according to Bree, Meursault is sentenced to death because of his refusal to behave in accordance with the norms of society. Thus, he "becomes a kind of social martyr, a man who 'dies rather than lie' in answer to a question" (Bree 113). He is a sacrificial victim, and Bree sees glory in Meursault's end, as she describes it as "a descent into the sea and sun, a reintegration into the cosmos" (116).
But, as O'Brien points out, Meursault's commitment to the truth is not as obvious as Bree would have readers believe. O'Brien maintains that while many critics declare Meursault a martyr for the truth, there are many instances within the novel in which Meursault lies. When his neighbor Raymond asks for his help in writing a letter to an Arab girl as part of a plan to deceive and humiliate her, Meursault agrees. Later, when Raymond beats up the girl and faces charges, Meursault agrees to act as a witness for him and lie to the police. Thus, it is not true that Meursault has a deep respect for the truth. Indeed, he seems rather indifferent to it in these situations, and O'Brien be
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Approximate Word count = 1617
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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