Character analysis of Mersault from Camus's L'Etranger - Essay Example

Character analysis of Mersault from Camuss LEtranger Mersault is the leading character of the novel LEtranger written by Albert Camus. Mersault is a man who does not believe in emotions or love and nor he does not have a very strong attachment with the world and its rituals. He lives his life according to his own will and does not develop any sentimental attachment with other beings surrounding him. The novel revolves around the life of Mersault and his absurdist perspective of the world which is displayed by his lack of grief over the death of his mother accompanied by him coming to terms with his death sentence towards the end of the novel.

Mersault is an Algerian man who lives alone. He does not have any bond with his family which is clearly displayed by his visit to the funeral of his mother. He does not even show any willingness to see the corpse of his mother and on her funeral; he smokes normally without any display of sadness. On the very next day of the funeral, he meets Marie who is a co-worker with him and he starts dating her. This shows his lack in the belief of worldly rituals and relationships. Mersault does not believe in goodness or the need of being kind to others.

He does not believe in the worldly emotions of love and he does not base his actions upon reasoning. This is displayed when he writes a letter for his neighbor Raymond upon his request. Raymond requests Mersault to write the letter so that he can trick his girlfriend into visiting so that he can take revenge from her. Mersault just writes it because he thinks he can do it and he does not consider the rightness of his actions. His lack of love and emotions is seen when his girlfriend, Marie asks him if he loves her.

He responds by saying that he does not really know and he can marry her if she wants him to. These acts show his lack of passion and interest in becoming engaged in worldly activities.Mersault is a man who does not base his actions upon reasons. He does not believe in God and this is clearly understood in his conversation with the chaplain who tries to convince him to turn to God. Mersault is an atheist and does not believe in the life hereafter. He also does not believe in karma and that good actions can provide for happiness.

He lives his life according to his own will without caring about the existence of other beings. He is irrational and this is seen when he murders the Arab man just because he was feeling hot.A perfect picture of absurdism is displayed in the novel LEtranger by Camus in the character of Mersault. Mersault does not come to terms with the world. He openly shows his absurdist believes towards the end when he says that he had come to terms with “the benign indifference of the world.” This explains his perspective that there is no reason for the existence of human beings and that there is no way in which the human beings can come in terms with the universe.

Works CitedCamus, Albert. LEtranger. The Stranger. New York, NY: Vintage Books, 1942. Web. 5 Jan. 2013.