The Outsider

Albert Camus' "The Outsider" is a bleak novel with a striking outlook on society. The book strongly challenges the normal conventions of society. Camus' term of "the outsider" refers to the idea that anyone who does not conform to perceived idea of society's law is deemed an outsider. With the novel's protagonist, Meursault, Camus examines the problems of possessing a non-conformist outlook, and the loneliness entailed within the existentialist way of life. Meursault commits murder without remorse, and is conveyed as somewhat of an anti hero as despite the fact he has indeed killed a man, he courageously refuses to lie about his actions and rebukes all the morals of a traditional society.

Despite the fact that I do not sympathise with Meursault who kills in a seemingly racist attack, he is successfully conveyed by Camus as very human. His behavior is indeed remarkably strange but very believable; he just comes across as devoid from emotion. Ironically, it is Meursault's inability to lie - a characteristic which is promoted by society - which labels him an "outsider". To me, this is the single most important aspect of the novel as something as 'pure' as the truth has lost any sense of worth within a "conventional" society (clearly an attack on a conformist outlook of society).

The fact that the narrative is first person is different in the sense that the novel appears to present the way society deals with the "outsider" as opposed to the way he deals with society. Meursault is passive in his outlook yet Camus opts for a first person narrative. We rarely are in formed of Meurault's feelings or opinions. I believe this narrative adds to the alien feelings that the protagonist feels towards society, and firmly heightens the existentialist argument with Meursault, wrongly or rightly, looking like the victim.