Characterization of Meursault in Part One

Characterization of Meursault in Part One

In part one of Albert Camus’s “The Stranger,” it quickly becomes clear that the main character Meursault is very awkward in social situations. He says thing that are uncalled for, such as when he asks his boss for time off for his mother’s funeral: “I even said, ‘It’s not my fault.’ Then I thought I shouldn’t have said that” (3). He is unsocial and avoids conversation when possible. For example, he is asked a question about his journey to his mother’s funeral and lies so that he “wouldn’t have to say anything else” (4). Little things irritate him easily, such as the silence of the elderly people when they are keeping vigil over his mother’s body. Normal interactions and gestures with other people seem to confuse and shock him: “On their way out, and much to my surprise, they all shook my hand — as if that night during which we hadn’t exchanged as much as a single word had somehow brought us closer together” (12). In addition, some of his behaviors are simply odd. The day after his mother’s funeral, Meurault goes to the beach and goes out on a date with a woman he likes, which is a strange thing to do immediately after the funeral of one’s mother. Meursault’s awkwardness in social situations distances him from others, causing him to become somewhat compassionless. 

In addition to being awkward, Meursault can be quite callous at times. When he and his mother’s friends keep vigil over the body before the funeral, one of the women starts crying. Not only does he not comfort her, he is also annoyed by her: “I  wished I didn’t have to listen to her anymore” (10). Meursault has a similar reaction when Salamano is upset about losing his dog, which has been his only companion for years. Instead of comforting the elderly man, Meursault states that he must wake up early the next morning. When in the funeral procession, Meursault repeatedly sees his mother’s very dear friend falling behind due to his age and his limp. Most people would offer to help the man or ask the procession to slow down for his sake, but Meursault continues to walk on with little regard to the struggling man and then he casually states that the man passes out at the funeral. Another instance of his callousness occurs when Marie proposes to him. He says that he does not care whether or not they get married and that he probably does not love her. He is brutally honest with her and does not sugarcoat this, which could easily upset someone, especially a romantic interest. Meursault’s callousness makes him seem cold, detached, and inhuman, and it affects his morals. 

Meursault also displays having loose morals. When asked if the situation between Salamano and his dog is pitiful, Meursault always responds that he does not think it is even though the dog is often beaten. Meursault defends Raymond beating his mistress because Meursault believes that she deserved since she might have been cheating on Raymond. He also is willing to lie to the police about the incident with Raymond and the mistress, beat up a man on the beach if one shows up while Raymond and Masson are fighting the others, and shoot a man if he hurts Raymond during their fight. These questionable actions all lead up to Meursault fatally shooting a man and then continuing to shoot the body: “Then I fired four more times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace” (59). His loose morals are often harmless, but they have the capability to result in a murder that will trouble Meursault throughout the novel.