In The Stranger, Meursault portrays many aspects of existentialism, mostly pertaining to absurdist philosophy. This refers to the failing efforts of humanity to find meaning. To begin, the idea that "existence is essentially absurd" is a major concept conveyed and shown by Meursault form the beginning of the novel, until the end.. "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know. I got a telegram from the home:'Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.' That doesn't mean anything"(page 3). What did it meant for this existentialist that his mother died? Absolutely nothing. She did what everyone eventually does: die. When Meusrault talked with the examining magistrate about his crime he showed no interest in giving life a meaning, but at the same time found no inconvenient with the magistrate putting his life in the hands of God. "That was his belief and if he were ever to doubt it, his life would become meaningless. 'Do you want my life to be meaningless?' he shouted. As far as I could see, it didn't have anything to do with me, and I told him so"(page 69). The concept of existence as an illogicality is pointed out again by Meursault, but with no interest. He has nothing to say about this because it is essentially that, and nothing more. This reminds be of Billy Pilgrim, the main character of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, who embraces an alien belief of existence: everything has happened, will happen, and is happening without any question (Tralfamadorian belief). There is no concrete or fully explained belief of existence and humanity has failed to explain it coherently, so why not believe it is absurd or that it can be lived in four dimensions like the Tralfamadorians?
Life is obstructed by choices and some assume it with greater preoccupation than others. These choices are given importance and for many they create stress. Definitely choices were no stress for Meursault. "I knew I had shattered the harmony of the day, the exceptional silence of the beach where I'd been happy. Then I fired four more times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace. And it was like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness"(page 59). Meursaults worse decision was killing the Arab, but this was no commotion for him After his final sentence was given he thought about escaping, but realized it was absurd and that his ultimate fate was death. He overcame stress and choices by facing whatever he had to without any expectations. One could think Meursault was stoic or brave, but he was boldly existential.
Existentialism values individual experiences to be "authentic" and find one's own self. To achieve this "we are alone". Meursault chose to be lonely and decided to loose contact with his mother. Whereas she proved to be in company, at least of Thomas Perez. She decided to pass her last days and took a fiance, but Meursault decided to face his last days with acceptance and nothing else. "For the first time in a long time I thought about Maman. I felt as if I understood why at the end of her life she had taken a 'fiance,' and why she had played at beginning again"(page 122). Meursault alone made a resolution similar to Maman's, and he was alone. Everything that made him who he was had affected him personally, but he was numb to others influence. Maman never made him think much, or Marie, but Meusrault alone took what he valued from each of these relationships. This "outsider" was careless of others thoughts, emotions, and decisions and that is why he lived a fulfilled life, without regret or oppression. The stranger was free.
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