Impending Death inThe Stranger by Albert Camus Essay

In The Stranger by Albert Camus, the main character, Meursault, is an absurdist who lives in the moment and refuses to be distracted by societal norms. He views the world as random and is indifferent to it. But to many French people living in Algeria, religion, social order and character are intertwined and are imperative to human life. Camus uses the crucifix and the courtroom to convey the idea that religion is man’s desperate attempt to create meaning in life where there is none. The entire second half of the novel is set in the courtroom, which symbolizes society’s views towards life and social order. After Meursault murderers an Arab man on the beach while vacationing with his friends, he is convicted and is placed on trial for his†¦show more content†¦Both Meursault’s lawyer and the prosecutor create explanations for Meursault’s crime that are based on reason and logic. The prosecutor even claims to have figured out the intent behind Meursault’s actions saying, â€Å"I have retraced for you the course of events which led this man to kill with full knowledge of his actions†(100). However, rationalizing behavior only serves to deny the alarming idea that the world is completely random. Therefore, Meursault’s trial shows absurdity and society’s futile attempt to impose rationality on every aspect of the universe. The crucifix not only symbolizes Christianity, but also the afterlife, social order, and society’s acceptance of a deeper meaning. When the magistrate demands to know why Meursault continued to shoot the Arab’s body, he is unable to get the answer he wants. Meursault quietly observes when â€Å"he took out a silver crucifix which he brandished as he came toward me...Speaking very quickly and passionately, he told me that he believed in God, that it was his conviction that no man was so guilty that God did not forgive him, but in order for that to happen a man must repent and in so doing become like a child whose heart is open and ready to embrace all...He was waving his crucifix almost directly over my head† (68). Although the magistrate tries to be threatening, Meursault views him as being foolish because it didnt matter why he hesitated