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The Ideas of Existentialism As Revealed Through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ the Stranger

The of as Revealed through the Main Character in ’ The Stranger

AN UNDERGRADUATE

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

By

YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI

Student Number: 034214059

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2008

The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

By

YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI

Student Number: 034214059

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2008

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:

Nama : Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi

Nomor Mahasiswa : 034214059

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul :

The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger

Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royakti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.

Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya.

Dibuat di Yogyakarta

Pada tanggal : 31 maret 2008

Yang menyatakan

(Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi)

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Life is a of Even Not to Choose is also a Choice

(Jean Paul Sartre)

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This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to My beloved parents My amazing brothers and sisters My wonderful friends

vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The most beautiful song in the world is never enough to express how wonderful

You are. The most amazing friend I ever had, who never leave me in every single step I take. Thank you Jesus for giving me so many in my . Thank you for your guidance in every phase of life, especially during the process of making this undergraduate thesis. I do believe that without Your guidance I not be able to finish

this undergraduate thesis on .

I would like to express my best gratitude to my amazing advisor, Mrs. Ni Luh

Putu Rosiandani, S.S, M.Hum. for her attention, precious suggestions and also for the lunch. I realize that without her encouragement, this thesis will not be completed. Thank you Mrs. Putu for your never-ending support, it really means a lot. Special thanks to my co-advisor, Mr. Paulus Sarwoto, S.S., M.A. for the corrections and suggestions that make this undergraduate thesis better. My gratefulness goes to Romo Harry for the discussion. I do believe that without him I cannot understand this well.

My best gratitude is for my incredible family, the best father ever, Ag. Mudyo

Hartono, to give me his extraordinary and my unbelievable mother ever,

Elizabeth Sri Rahayu, for the struggle and for her never lasting prayer. To my lovely

brothers, Mas Hardi, Mas Agus, Mas Edi, Mas Heri, Mas Darsono, Mas Sigit, Mas

Agung, Mas Wawan, and Mas Viki, and sisters, Mbak Retno, Mbak Tutik, Mbak Wiwin,

Mbak Rini, Mbak Erni, Mbak Oni and Mbak Dewi thanks for endless support and love.

To my nieces and nephews for the , it is really inspiring. I do love you all. Thank

vii you also for Pak Nardi’s family for the prayers and for another family for me. And

for lovely my aunt’s family, thank you for the love.

Thank you for my wonderful friends, Danik, Stella, Danang and Tika for sharing

a lot of things, for the laughter, love and tears. To my lovely friends, Sari, , Alice,

Dwi, Poppy, Nilla, Sari, Novi, Wayan, Anita, Nitnot, Susi, Bayang, Dodi, Wedhus,

Mbendol, Tio, Budi, Makwik, Yabes and all ’03 English Letters Students. For Tartuffe

family (Frida, Tyas, Ocha, Lusi, Poppy, Yabes, Jony, Danang, Deon, Danik, Mas Dika,

Mas Jody, Galang, Sunu, Mas Dito and Mas Teguh), thanks for helping me learning how

to work as a team. Thanks to Ginting, Wahmuji, Mando and Kethek for the support and

suggestion. Thanks to Dewi and Lolin who lent their computer. Thanks to ERROR crew,

especially Reta, Desy and Darti for the fantastic moments we have spent. For Magis ’08

community, thanks for the sharing, support and friendship. Special thanks goes to FCJ sisters for their guidance, love and prayer. For my wonderful CAS CIS, thanks for the beautiful voices. All of you are truly angels.

Much thanks to my new sisters, Cindy, Mei and De’ Ari. Thanks for being true

friends for me. I learn a lot how to be a friend and to be a loveable person. The three of

you already change my view about friendship and thanks for always beside me in my

and sadness. I love you. Thanks to my boarding house friends, Mbak Nina,

Lolin and Meta, for the laughter and silly things you have shared.

Thank you for Nino who gives me the to see the world differently, thanks

for everything.

Last but not least, thanks for a happens in my life.

Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ...... i APPROVAL PAGE ...... ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE ...... iii LEMBAR PENGESAHAN ...... iv MOTTO PAGE ...... v DEDICATION PAGE ...... vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... ix ABSTRACT ...... xi ABSTRAK ...... xii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ...... 1 A. Background of the Study ...... 1 B. Problem Formulation ...... 4 C. Objectives of the Study ...... 4 D. Definition of Terms ...... 5

CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ...... 6 A. Review of Related Studies ...... 6 B. Review of Related Theories ...... 10 1. Theories of Character ...... 10 2. Theories of Characterization ...... 12 3. Theory of Existentialism ...... 14 3.1. Existentialism View and Existentialist Literature ...... 14 3.2. Nietzsche’s Theory on Existentialism ...... 17 3.3. Sartre’s Theory on Existentialism ...... 18 3.4. Camus’ Theory on Existentialism ...... 19 4. Literature and Existentialism ...... 21 C. Theoretical Framework ...... 22

CHAPTER III: ...... 24 A. of the Study ...... 24 B. Approach of the Study ...... 25 C. Method of the Study ...... 26

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ...... 28 A. The Characterization of the Main Character ...... 28 B. The Ideas of Existentialism Revealed through in the Main Character ... 39 1. Mersault’s view towards ...... 40

ix 2. Mersault’s view towards love ...... 44 3. Mersault’s view towards ...... 48 4. Mersault’s view towards ...... 52

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ...... 57

BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 60

x ABSTRACT

YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI. The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. Yogyakarta: Departement of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2008.

The Stranger is one of Albert Camus’s . The novel tells about an absurd live lived by the main character. Meursault as the main character in the story differently sees life as the characters do. He has his own and . Through his attitudes, speeches and other’s point of view about him, it is obvious that Meursault’s characteristics confirm some of existentialism. In this sense, Camus delivers his ideas on existentialism through the main character. The main character is used as Camus’ means to deliver his . There are two problem formulations formulated in this undergraduate thesis; (1) How is the main character, Meursault, characterized in the story?, (2) What are the ideas of existentialism revealed through the main character in the novel?. The objectives of this undergraduate thesis are; first, to find out how the main character in the novel is characterized, second, to find out the ideas of existentialism as revealed through the main character in the novel. Since this study focused on literary work, the used library research. The writer took all the references from the library to support the analysis. To strengthen the analysis a moral-philosophical approach is employed. Through the analysis, it is found that the main character’s characterization has a significant role in revealing the ideas of existentialism. The way the main character, Meursault, sees the life and the events in his surrounding becomes the evidence that Camus employs the main character as his means to deliver his ideas on existentialism. By paying a great attention on Meursault’s characteristics, the writer finds some principles of existentialism portrayed in Meursault’s characteristics. In this sense, existentialism is described as an that requires a total freedom. A total freedom can be gained when people live entirely apart from God. Though a man should have an absolute freedom, a total responsibility is required. Love should be avoided since it is a forgetfulness of the . Furthermore, everything people do in their life will be ended by death. Death is natural and normal thing to happen as a cycle of life. However, is not the best solution to end a life, but to struggle is the thing that people should do to face the absurd world. This belief leads people to behave absurdly. In other word, absurdity becomes the essential characteristic of existentialism.

xi ABSTRAK

YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI. The ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. Yogyakarta: Fakultas Sastra, Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2008.

The Stranger adalah salah satu novel karangan Albert Camus. Novel ini bercerita tentang kehidupan absurd tokoh utamanya. Meursault sebagai tokoh utama memandang hidup secara berbeda dari tokoh-tokoh lainnya. Dia mempunyai nilai- nilai dan kepercayaan sendiri. Melalui tingkah laku, perkataan dan penilaian tokoh lain terhadapnya, jelas terlihat bahwa penokohan Meursault mengusung prinsip- prinsip existensialisme. Dalam hal ini, Camus menyampaikan gagasan-gagasan existensialismenya melalui tokoh utamanya. Tokoh utama digunakan sebagai alat Camus untuk menyampaikan pemikirannya. Ada dua pokok permasalahan yang dirumuskan dalam studi ini; (1) Bagaimana tokoh utama, Meursault, digambarkan dalam cerita ini? (2) Gagasan-gagasan existensialisme apa saja yang diungkapkan melalui tokoh utama dalam novel ini? Tujuan dari studi ini adalah; pertama, untuk menemukan bagaimana tokoh utama digambarkan, kedua, untuk menemukan gagasan-gagasan existensialisme yang diungkapkan melalui tokoh utama dalam novel ini. Karena studi ini menitikberatkan pada karya sastra, penulis menggunakan studi pustaka. Penulis menggunakan sumber pustaka untuk analisis. Untuk memperkuat analisis, pedekatan filsafat moral digunakan. Melalui bagian analisis, ditemukan bahwa penokohan tokoh utama mempunyai peran penting dalam mengungkapkan gagasan-gagasan existensialisme. Cara pandang tokoh utama terhadap hidup dan kejadian-kejadian di sekitarnya menjadi bukti bahwa Camus menggunakan tokoh utama untuk menyampaikan gagasan-gagasan existensialismenya. Dengan memberikan perhatian penuh pada penokohan Meursault, penulis menemukan prinsip-prinsip existensialisme yang tergambar dalam penokohan Meursault. Dalam hal ini, existensialisme dideskripsikan sebagai sebuah eksistensi yang bersyarat kebesasan penuh. Kebebesan penuh dapat dicapai saat seseorang hidup terlepas dari Tuhan. Walaupun seseorang harus memiliki kebebasan penuh, tanggungjawab yang penuhpun diwajibkan. Cinta harus dicegah karena cinta adalah peninggalan diri sendiri. Selain itu, apapun yang dilakukan manusia akan dihentikan oleh kematian. Kematian adalah kejadian alami yang terjadi sebagai bagian dari rantai kehidupan. Walaupun demikian, bunuh diri bukan cara terbaik untuk mengakhiri hidup, tetapi berjuang adalah hal yang harus dilakukan untuk menghadapi hidup yang absurd. Kepercayaan ini membawa seseorang untuk bertindak absurd. Ini berarti bahwa, absurditas adalah ciri penting dari existensialisme.

xii CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of The Study

Existentialism as part of philosophy is interesting to be discussed. One thing that makes it interesting is that existentialism focuses on human being. In existentialism, human being becomes the central of everything. The other thing is that it concerns about the way people think. Each person in the world is different from one and another, especially in the way he or she thinks. As the result of people’s different way of thinking, there are various of existentialism.

One of the most famous existentialism concepts is ‘existence’ precedes

’. This means that existence is prior than essence (Horton and

Edward, 1967:457). According to Barrett, man does not have a fixed essence that is given to him ready-made, but he makes his own out of his freedom and his historical condition where he (1962:102).

It is obvious that existentialism focuses on human . Human beings have a freedom to create themselves, to be what they want to be. Their personality is not given naturally but it is created by the freedom they have, the they make and the condition where they live.

There are some who interpret the existence of human beings such as Jean Paul Sartre, Heidegger, Jaspers, Soren Kiekegaard, , and also Albert Camus. Each has his or her own concept of existentialism. Some of them belong to theistic existentialist and the others are

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atheistic existentialists. Though they have different concepts and ways of thinking, they argue the same issue that is the existence of human beings.

In this undergraduate thesis, the writer will focus on the concept of existentialism proposed by Camus. Camus’ works are mostly associated with existentialism. Different from Soren Kiekegaard’s existentialism, which teaches people to depend their life on God and choose to live as a Christian, Camus’ existentialism does not believe in God’s existence. Like Sartre and Nietzsche,

Camus is considered as an atheistic existentialist (Kaufman, 1956:289). Fairly similar with Sartre, Camus focuses on . They argue that men should find integrity within themselves. that each man has to be independent and does not depend his or her life on others (Kaufman, 1956: 47).

Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean Paul Sartre take an important role in Camus’ philosophical thought. Seeing that Nietzsche has a big influence in existentialism, many existentialists, including Albert Camus, are influenced by his way of thinking. It is not surprising anymore that Nietzsche’s concept of existentialism often appears in Camus’ work. While Sartre also influences Camus’ philosophical thought, Sartre is Camus’ companion. They became close to each other when Camus worked in . Sartre’s influence can also be seen in

Camus’ work.

Based on an online source entitled Albert Camus, it is stated that Camus often brings philosophical issues in his work. His work, , covers a philosophical analysis of rebellion and as the rejection towards . The Myth of is a philosophical essay about absurdity. This 3

philosophical essay carries the of absurdity. His novel entitled The Stranger, tells about a man who lives an absurd life. The novel brings the feeling of absurdity as the main atmosphere of the story. The atmosphere of absurdity can be felt through the main character’s attitude that is unusual. There are still many other works Camus wrote such as , , and The

Plague.

The Stranger is the main source to be discussed in this undergraduate thesis.

As stated above, The Stranger is a story about man who lives an absurd life. In this novel, Camus brought the ideas of existentialism. The absurd way of living chosen by Meursault becomes the manifestation of his existentialism. The novel is divided into two parts. The first part deals with Meursault and his environment, how he responds to the custom in the where he lives and how he responds to other people’s behavior. Here, his attitude towards others and his environment represents his existentialism. While the second part, when Meursault comes to the moment when he killed an Arab without certain motive, strengthens his ideas of existentialism.

The Stranger is chosen as the source of this undergraduate thesis because this novel is a very interesting novel to read. This novel carries different view on the way people live. The different way of living is seen in the main character’s way of living. How he faces every condition in his life. His reaction towards every which happens in his life is different from other people. It makes people consider him as a stranger and freak since he acts differently from others. His indifference is the result of his concept of life. The concept he brought is the concept of 4

existentialism. Another why this novel is chosen is because it achieved a great success when it appeared in 1942 and became Camus’ best known and most popular work among youngsters (O’Brien, 1970:24).

The topic discussed in this undergraduate thesis is The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed Through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. Here, the main character in the novel, Meursault, will be the focus of the study. The writer wants to reveal the ideas of existentialism through the main character in the novel. The main character in the novel undergoes the process of finding his existence as a human being. He also looks for unlimited freedom by being an extraordinary man.

B. Problems Formulation

The problems of this thesis that will be discussed can be formulated as follows:

1. How is the main character, Meursault, characterized in the story?

2. What are the ideas of existentialism revealed through the main character in

the novel?

C. Objectives of the Study

The objective of this study is to find out the answer of the formulated problems in the former part. The purposes of this thesis are; first, to find out how the character of Meursault as the main character of the novel is characterized.

Second, to find out the ideas of existentialism as revealed through the main character.

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D. Definition of Terms

To avoid misunderstanding about the term used in this thesis, the writer wants to clarify the term of existentialism that the writer used in this undergraduate thesis by giving the definition.

Since it concerns about the way people thinks, the concept of , existentialism is not easily defined. There are a lot of definitions of existentialism.

In order to have a vivid definition, the writer sums up the definitions of existentialism that already formulated by some . As the result, existentialism is defined as a that emphasizes on uniqueness.

In existentialism, existence is considered more prior than essence. Human beings are free to choose their own way to live and have a total freedom, but at the same time they also have to be responsible for the act and the decision they make.

Existentialism also sees human’s inability to explain the world condition and absurdity becomes the main characteristic of .

This definition is chosen because it covers the appropriate characteristics of existentialism that will be discussed in this thesis.

CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies

In this part, the writer deals with the previous studies that have been done related to the topic of this thesis. The studies are taken from some theses from the students of English Letters Study Programme Department of English Letters

Faculty of Letters Sanata Dharma University and some are taken from the experts.

One of the studies taken is Dicky Christanto’s thesis entitled “Humanity,

Absurdity and Found in Albert Camus’ in Relation with

Karl Marx Criticism toward ”. In this thesis the writer compares

Camus’ ideas toward religion and Marx’s criticism toward religion, the similarities and differences between Camus’ and Marx’s atheism, the application of atheism shown by the main character in the novel, The Plague and Marx himself . This thesis also covers the message that can be taken from the discussion of Atheism (Christianto,1998:6).

Another study is the undergraduate thesis entitled “Human Revolt Related to the Crisis of Freedom in The Main Character of Albert Camus’ The Stranger “.

This thesis was written by Bambang Hendriyanto. In this thesis the writer focuses on the study of plot, the setting of the novel and how the main character represents his rebellion as the effect of freedom crisis (Hendriyanto,1998:4).

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A different angle in seeing the novel is taken by F.X Lilik Mardjianto. In his thesis entitled “The Significance of the Characterization of the Minor Characters to the Elaboration of The Theme In Albert Camus’ The Stranger”, the writer explores the minor characters’ characteristics to find its significance that can be confronted to the main character’s personalities. Here the main character is the representation of absurdity while the minor characters are the of the absurdity. By confronting the characterization between the main character and the minor characters, the writer can find the significance of the minor character in order to find out the suitable theme for the novel that is “absurdity is the ultimate ” (Mardjianto, 2005:6).

Jean Paul Sartre also wrote a philosophical essay on Camus’ work. In his essay, Sartre mainly discussed two of Camus’ works which are The Outsider, the previous title of The Stranger, and . He said that, these two works are associated with one another. Both of them bring about absurdity in different way. In The Stranger, the story tells about a man living in an absurd way. The ideas of absurdity are not provided in this story. The writer only describes the feeling of the main character, which is the feeling of being absurd.

Meanwhile, The Myth of Sisyphus provides the ideas of absurdity. The Myth of

Sisyphus becomes an explanation of absurdity concept.

M.Camus distinguishes, as we have mentioned, between the and the feeling of the absurd. He says, in this connection, “Deep feelings, like great works, are always more meaningful than they are aware of being…”The feeling of the absurd is different with the idea of the absurd…” The Myth of Sisyphus might be said to aim at giving us the idea, and The Outsider at giving us the feeling (Sartre: 1962: 35).

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The Stranger provides us the feeling of absurdity. It means that when people read this work they will be driven into the feeling of absurd. It happens when people, in this case the main character, has the concept of existentialism in his mind, he will live in an absurd way and this absurd way of living will be felt by the reader.

An almost similar discussion is also proposed by Conor Cruise O’Brien in his book entitled Camus. In his book, he discusses three of Camus’ works, which are: Caligula, The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus. These works are considered to have interrelationship to each other and regarded as forming the phase of the stranger, meaning that these three works are Camus’ means in delivering his idea about absurd life (O’Brien 1970:9).

O’Brien begins his writing by stating Camus’ biography; that Camus was raised in a poor family and lived in European working class. He received a opportunity to continue his study in the Lychee in . Camus joined the anti-fascist Amsterdam Pleyel movement and also joined the .

In 1937, he broke up with the party. He began to write in 1935 and published an essay entitled . Then in 1938 he wrote his second ,

Caligula and began writing on the absurd, The Myth of Sisyphus and Notes for

The Stranger. In 1941, he completed these three works (O’Brien 1970:7-9).

According to O’Brien, the setting of place, Algiers; where is majored by the

Arabic speaking people, as well as Camus’ biography, growing up among the poorest of European working class, has an important role in building his ideas and thought (O’Brien 1970:10). 9

Concerning to The Stranger, O’Brien puts a great attention on the main character. He sums up the story by stating the evidences that the main character in the story is an indifferent man. The way he lives is different from others. His indifference can be seen in the way he responds to his society and the way he shows his existentialism through his action. It is clearly seen that Meursault is really aware of his monotonous life and tries to rebel against it by being an indifferent man (O’Brien 1970:14-19).

In this book, O’Brien also compares the main characters in Camus’ works,

Caligula in Caligula, Meursault in The Stranger and Sisyphus in The Myth of

Sisyphus. Meursault, as well as Caligula and Sisyphus are considered as the absurd hero. Yet, in fact, the strategy that was used to build these three characters is slightly different. Caligula is described as a ruthless person, similar with a monster, while in building Meursault’s character, Camus led the reader to give to Meursault. Although in the story Meursault killed a person, the reader will not really aware of his cruelty because the act of killing is not clearly seen. Another strategy is applied in Sisyphus. He is described as a fool, someone who does a foolish thing, who accepts his absurd task to roll a rock to the top of mountain. His integrity as a human being is shown in his willingness to do the absurd task (O’Brien 1970:29).

In the end of his analytical writing about The Stranger, O’Brien conveys a message that the true revolt against the absurd world is continuing to live and not to commit suicide (O’Brien 1970:30).

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The works above are the studies that have been conducted related to Camus’ works, especially his novel, The Stranger. These studies are mainly concerned with Camus’ ideas and the main character’s significance. Nevertheless, the minor characters’ significance also becomes the object of study. Almost all of these studies are studies on existentialism.

In this thesis, the writer tries to give a more specific study on existentialism.

The writer aims to reveal the ideas of existentialism in the novel. The main character’s characteristic is explored since he becomes Camus’ means to deliver his ideas of existentialism. The focus of this study is to reveal the ideas of existentialism that can be taken from the novel through the main character.

B. Review of Related Theories

In this part the writer will state the theories that will be used in the analysis.

The theories are; the theory of character, the theory of characterization and the theory of existentialism.

1. Theories of Character

M. H. Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms, points out that

“Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral and disposition qualities that are expressed in what they say- the dialogue- and by what they do-the actions” (1981: 20).

It means that characters in a story show moral and natural qualities of mind through their dialogue and the action in the story.

Based on the importance, characters are categorized into major character and minor character. A major character is usually the center of the story. He or 11

she is the most important character in the story. Usually, the acts of the story are focused on this character from the beginning until the ending parts. The core of the story is highlighted through this characters .

While minor character is a character that appears in a certain setting, just necessarily to become the background for the major characters. Their roles are less important than the major character because they are not fully developed characters and their roles in a story are just to support the development of the major character (Abrams, 1981:20).

Characters are also divided into two types based on the internal complexity; they are flat character and round character. A flat character is presented without many individualizing details, and therefore can be adequately described in a single phrase or sentence. It also can be “a single idea or .” A round character is complex in temperament and motivation and is presented with subtle particularity. He is as difficult to describe with any adequacy as a person in real life is and like most people, he is capable of surprising us (Abrams, 1981:

20). Characterized by one or two traits, flat characters can be written in a sentence to describe whether they are good or bad character. It makes flat character not fully developed. Round characters are complex and multi sided in their temperament so that the characters have more proportion for their development.

Based on their development or changes, according to C. Hugh Holman and

William Harmon in their book, A Handbook to Literature (1986), characters are also categorized into two types, namely static and dynamic. Firstly, a static 12

character is one who changes little. Things happen to such a character without things happening within. The of action reveals the character rather than showing the character changing in response to the actions. Sometimes a static character gives the appearance of changing simply because our picture of the character is revealed bit by bit. Secondly, a dynamic character is one who is modified by actions and , and one objective of the work in which the character appearance is to reveal the consequences of these actions (Holman &

Harmon, 1986: 83). To judge whether they are static or dynamic is not only based on the changing in a condition or little changing in opinion, but there is a process to make the changing.

2. Theories of Characterization

M.J. Murphy (1972: 161-173) suggests nine ways in which the author attempts to make his characters understandable and lifelike for his reader. Those nine ways to characterize a character are discussed as follows.

Firstly is by analyzing the character’s personal description. In this way the writer characterizes the character by seeing a character from his physical appearance such as his build, his face, his skin, his eyes, his hair or his clothes.

Secondly, by analyzing from another character’s point of view or character as seen by another. A character can be analyzed through another character’s eyes and opinions to describe the character that the writer wants to expose.

Thirdly, a character can be characterized by character’s speech. The readers can have an opinion about the character by paying attention to the character’s 13

speech. The reader can also see the conversation in which the character is involved; the way he or she gives his or her opinion may also show the personality of the character.

Fourthly, by considering the character’s past life, the readers are made known of some important clues to get to know about the character. It can be described by the author’s direct comment, through the character’s , through the character’s conversation, or through the medium of another person.

Fifthly, a character could be analyzed from conversation of others; the readers can get to know a character through the conversations of other people and the things they say about him.

Sixthly, by perceiving the character’s reactions to various situations and events, an author shows his character’s tendency, and this tendency gives the readers a clue about the character’s personality.

Seventhly, a character can be characterized by the author’s direct comment and description on the character. In this way there is no medium for the author to use to characterize the character. The author directly describes the character and also gives comment on the character.

Eighthly, the thought of the character can be used to characterize the character. The author shows the character’s personality by allowing the readers to understand the deepest thought of the character in a novel.

Lastly, the author characterizes the character by describing the character’s mannerisms, habits, or idiosyncrasies. The author shows the character’s personalities by stating the character’s gestures and habits. 14

Another way of characterization is offered by Roberts, Edgar v and Jacobs in Fiction An Introdution to Reading and Writing, that is, a story is usually concerned with a major issue that a character must face. Characterization through dialogue, action, comments may involve interaction between a character with another character, with a difficult situation or with an idea (Robert,

1989:56).

3. Theory of Existentialism

Talking about theories on existentialism, we will find a list of philosopher names such as Soren Kierkegaard, Jean Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche,

Heidegger, Dostoevsky and also Albert Camus. Each of the philosophers brings a different theory or concept of existentialism but indeed their thought rooted from the same philosophical question of life. Albert Camus, one of those philosophers, begins his philosophical thought by questioning the as well as what the other philosopher does. Yet later on, their concept develops with their own uniqueness.

Here, in this part, the writer will review some views of existentialism and theory of existentialism. The theory is not only taken from Albert Camus, the writer of the novel, but also from Jean Paul Sartre and Friedrich Nietzsche.

These two philosophers are chosen since they have big influences in Camus’ philosophical thought.

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3.1. Existentialism View and Existentialist Literature

According to Holman and Harmon in his book, A Handbook to Literature, existentialism is: “A Group of attitudes (current in philosophical, religious, and artistic thought during and after the second ) that emphasizes existence rather than essence and sees the inadequacy of human reason to explain the enigma of the universe as the basic of philosophical question” (1986: 199).

According to this book, existentialism is defined as some attitudes that based on philosophy, religious and artistic thought. It exists during and after the Second World War. The thought emphasizes on human’s existence.

Human’s existence is considered more prior than human’s essence. It observes the human’s inability to explain the mystery of the universe. Furthermore, the important point is human being’s awareness of their situation that they have a total freedom but at the same time they also are completely responsible for their act and decision (Holman and Harmon, 1986: 199).

Encyclopedia of world Literature also explains about existential literature. In this book, it is stated that existential literature emphasizes on “the fact that the men are not determined priori, but ‘exist’. They are in the state of ‘’ within the framework of a certain given situation, and are in the long run, what they make themselves. In this way they escape from a mechanical determination and are ‘free’ “(Steinberg and Buchaman (eds), 1973:224).

According to this definition, men are not originally determined but they are created themselves in their own way. They are free to choose their own way to live and free from society determination.

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Stanton in Introduction to Literature, states that the work of existential fiction tends to emphasize on individual isolation, how the individual can be short of , finds it difficult to establish a good relationship with others, and the opacity and absurdity of his work (1965:66). Meaning to say that someone who has the concept of existentialism tends to have difficulty in building a good relationship with others, lack of identity and live in isolation.

Their way of living is absurd.

A different definition of existentialism is offered by John. K. Roth in his book International Encyclopedia of , he defined existentialism as;

“An approach to ethics that emphasizes individual -freedom and responsilbility, and the irrational as primary features of human condition” (1995:294).

Another definition of existentialism is brought by Miffin in his book, The

American Heritage Dictionary of English Language. It is stated that existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human’s existence is inexplicable and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the sequences of one’s act.

This definition is quite similar with Holman and Harmon’s definition. Both emphasize on the individual uniqueness and the freedom to choose one’s own way and decision. Furthermore, one also has the responsibility of the choice he and she has taken.

From the definitions of existentialism above, it can be concluded that existentialism is a mindset that emphasizes on individual uniqueness. In 17

existentialism, existence is considered more prior than essence. Human beings are free to choose their own way to live and have a total freedom, but at the same time they also have to be responsible of the act and the decision they make. Existentialism also sees human’s inability to explain the world condition and absurdity becomes the main characteristic of human condition.

3.2. Nietzsche’s Theory on Existentialism

Talking about existentialism cannot be separated from Nietzsche. Since his influence among existentialists is no longer questionable. Sartre, Heidegger,

Jaspers and Camus are the existentialists who are influenced by Nietzsche’s thought. Camus’ Myth of Sysiphus is considered as a distant echo of Nietzsche, he also wrote about Nietzsche. Like Camus, Jaspers also wrote two books about

Nietzsche and discussed him in detail in his several books. Nietzsche also becomes the first name mentioned in Sartre’s philosophic main work, L’etre et le neant. Calling Nietzsche as an existentialist is not appropriate because it seems giving him insufficient appreciation of his full significance (Kaufman

1956: 22).

As stated above, Nietzsche has an important role among other philosophers, including Camus. It is not surprising anymore that Nietzsche’s influence can be felt in Camus’ work. In Camus’ work, The Stranger, Nietzsche’s ideas of existentialism appears.

One of his existentialism concepts is known as “”. In this concept, Nietzsche tries to explore his atheism in a very radical way. He 18

proclaimed himself as an atheist by instinct. His atheism provided a model for those existentialists, including Albert Camus, who wish to describe an existence, lived entirely apart from God. On his atheism, he stated that either disbelief or belief is optional attitude and this option is worthwhile to be researched (Collins,

1952:21).

An online source entitled Friedrich Nietzsche and his Philosophy of the

Superman states another concept of existentialism that Nietzsche offers that is

‘Man and ’. What is meant by ‘Man’ is an ordinary man, man who obeys the rules surround him, who follow the value given by the society and fulfill the society’s demands. While ‘Superman’ is a term used for a man who has the ability to transgress the rules surround him. ‘Superman’ is a man who bravely performs his instinct. He or she is a person who has the ability to create his or her own value. A model of human being as Nietzsche has suggested “Do not follow me but follow yourself” (Kaufman, 1956:50). What he said means that someone has to be her or himself and has her or his own value. Being as a

‘Superman’ is the outcome of ‘’. The power to overcome man, this power is not only power over another but also power over oneself.

3.3. Sartre’s Theory on Existentialism

In Camus’ philosophical thought, Jean Paul Sartre has his own role. Camus and Sartre recognized each other when they were involved in a Communist

Party. Yet, their relationship was broken after some years.

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As well as Nietzsche, Sartre also offered atheism. According to him, if God does not exist, everything would be permitted and man cannot find anything to depend on, except to depend on himself (Kaufman, 1956:295).

According to Sartre “man is else, but what he purposes, he exists only in so far as he realizes himself, he is therefore nothing else but the sum of his action,...(Kaufman, 1956:300). It means that man will find his existence when he is fully aware of himself and what he did.

In relation to human existence, Sartre also stated that man’s existence is not determined originally, but it is built from him by the choice and commitment he made.

“man makes himself, he is not found ready-made; he makes himself by the choice of his …we define man only in relation to his to his commitment; it is therefore absurd to reproach us for irresponsibility in our choice (Kaufman, 1956:306 ).”

Therefore, according to Sartre, the morality or goodness is subjective based on the person’s choice and point of view. The way a man keeps his commitment is also important to show his or her existence. Meaning to say that person’s existence can be seen through his or her way to hold his or her commitment and the way he or she is responsible for the choice he or she already made.

Thus the central and the heart of existentialism, according to Sartre, is:

“the absolute character of the free commitment, by which every man realizes himself in realizing a type of humanity –a commitment always understandable, to no matter whom in no matter epoch- and its bearing upon relativity of a cultural pattern which may result from such absolute commitment (Kaufman, 1956:304).”

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3.4. Camus’ Theory on Existentialism

Talking about Camus’ theories on existentialism means talking about his concept of absurdity. Camus’ concept of absurdity is rooted from the concept of existentialism. Camus’ existentialism focuses on the stage that people feel when they start to question their existence. This stage is called as absurdity. He, as well as other philosophers, begins his thought with a philosophical problem questioning the meaning of life. Whether life is worth living or not, since many people who feel that life is not worth living die by committing suicide and many others getting killed for the ideas or illusions that give them the reason for living.

It seems that a reason for living is also an excellent reason for dying (Camus,

1955:4). This basic question is the starting point of Camus’ absurdity. According to Camus, absurd men do not recognize suicide; they are fully aware of absurdity, accept absurdity and live with it. Absurd men are fully aware that the place they live offers absurd things. They live within the cycle of absurdity that there is no meaning at all in this world. The best solution to stay alive is to struggle by living the absurd as long as possible.

Question about life and the world’s condition often appear in human’s mind.

Since life is a mystery and things happen in the world is inexplicable. Moreover, everything people do in their life will be stopped by death. The world is absurd in which people find it difficult to understand it. While men’s necessity about the clarity of life and the condition of the world is not fulfilled because there is no clear explanation to fulfill the . The world remains silent and gives no explanation for irrational conditions which happen in the world. This fact leads to 21

the confrontation between human’s curiosity of clear explanation of life and inexplicable condition of the world. This confrontation is the meaning of absurd.

Thus, the concept of absurd depends on men and the world.

But what is absurd is the confrontation of this irrationals and the wild longing for clarity whose call the echoes in the human heart. The absurd depends as much on man as on the world (Camus, 1955:16).

The concept of love as well as the concept of God is another aspect in the world that is absurd. According to Camus, things can be understood when the things can be touched, can be smelled and resist us (Camus,1955:38). However these two things cannot fulfill the requirements to be understood. We cannot either touch or smell love and God. Love that entirely binds us to certain creature is not permitted because this kind of love is the same as suicide. Suicide and this kind of love are forgetfulness of self (Camus, 1955:54). Meaning to say that when someone is crazily in love they will not be aware of their existence, they will depend on others. Thus they cannot liberate himself in any relationship for the sake of his existence.

As well as Nietzsche and Sartre, Camus also does not believe in God’s existence. God cannot be felt by human’s senses; God is only human’s imagination. This fact brings the idea that man is a free agent, there is nothing that can limit his acts. Concerning to God’s existence Camus stated;

For in the presence of God, there is less a problem of freedom than a problem of . You know the alternative: either we are not free and God the all-powerful is responsible for evil. Or we are free and responsible but God is not all-powerful (Camus, 1955:42).

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From the quotation above, Camus offers two alternatives whether a man is the one who owns the power or God is the owner of power. In the case that a man who owns the power, man is the master of his life, he is the God over himself.

4. Literature and Existentialism

Understanding the relationship between philosophy and literature will help us to find the relationship between existentialism and literature. Knight in Literature

Considered as Philosophy stated,

Philosophy and literature have acted upon another in the past, but they never lost their identity in one another. Writers who were not philosophers wrote about philosophy, what they wrote was not in itself philosophy in the strict sense of the word (Knight, 1962: 175).

It is clearly seen in the quotation above the relationship between philosophy and literature. Though the author is not a philosopher, he or she brings such philosophical ideas in his or her literary work. Wellek and Warren in Theory of

Literature stated, “Literature might be a reflection of philosophical ideas”

(1956:111). It means that literature becomes the tools in delivering philosophical ideas of the author.

While Rudolf Unger, in the same book, also stated that literature expresses a general attitude toward life that the author of literary work usually answers the questions which are also themes of philosophy (Wellek & Warren, 1956:115).

Meaning to say that literary works are used as media to deliver certain messages about life and offer solutions concerning on philosophical questions.

Since existentialism becomes a distinct philosophical and literary movement belongs to the 19th-20th centuries, it had a big influence on literary works created 23

during that time. There were many literary works which revealed the basis of existentialism. In post second world war, human existence becomes the central theme. During this time, many literary works, including The Stranger, brought the ideas of existentialism.

C. Theoretical Framework

In this study, it requires the theory of character and characterization since the main character takes an important role in this study. The theory of character and characterization is used to explore the characteristics of the main character and his character development. MJ Murphy’s theory of characterization will help the writer in analyzing the main character since this method of characterization is considered the most suitable method for the next discussion. Robert’s theory indicates that the characterization of the characters in the story may involve interaction with other elements such as interaction with other characters, interaction with a difficult situation or interaction with an idea. This theory will be used to show relationship between the main character’s characterizations with the ideas he brought.

Existentialism is the focus of this study. The analysis will be based on the theory of existentialism. Since Nietzsche and Sartre contributed significant influence in Camus’ thought, their theories will also be used in the analysis.

The theory of literature and existentialism is used to show the relationship between philosophy, in this discussion is existentialism, and literature, a novel entitled The Stranger. CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of Study

The object of this study is a novel entitled The Stranger written by Albert

Camus. This work is one of Camus’ famous works. It consists of 123 pages and the story is divided into two parts. The version used in this thesis was published in Vintage International, , A division of Random

House, INC., New York and was translated by Matthew Ward. It was published in his early career in 1942. In this time Camus was mainly concerned with existentialism issues and what he called as “absurdity” of the human condition.

According to O’Brien, The Stranger became Camus’ best known and most popular work among youngsters (O’Brien, 1970:24). Albert Camus was awarded the for literature in 1957. He became the second youngest person who received Nobel Prize.

The story The Stranger is about a man living in an absurd way. The man here is the main character named Meursault. He is an Algier. The interesting point of this character is the way he faces his life. The way he lives is really different from ordinary people. He tends to refuse the norms in the society. At the end of the story, he is sentenced to death as the result of his killing an

Arab. His inability to cry when his mother passed away becomes the focus of his examination in . He is considered as a dangerous person for the

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residents since he gives the impression that he has no feeling of humanity.

Furthermore, in the trial, he says that he finds difficulty in recognizing his own feelings. This fact makes his position becomes more difficult. When his lawyer asks him not to speak such a thing that worsens his position and asks him to say that the reason of his as a self-defense, he refuses.

He receives this , and refuses to in the trial in order to get his freedom. In this sense, the writer finds that there are some principles of existentialism portrayed in the main character of this novel. The ideas of existentialism portrayed in the main character of this novel will become the object of this study.

B. Approach of Study

In analyzing a literary work, it is important to obtain a deep and good about the literary work itself. Therefore, it needs an appropriate approach that can help to support the analysis of the story as the material of the thesis.

Most of literary works are aimed to deliver certain message to the readers about what is good or bad in human life. The message that is given is usually related to the way people have to live their life. The philosophers’ ideas about life, especially Camus’ ideas about existentialism, are the result of their concept of mind. Their ideas are delivered through literary work such as a novel. It seems that the literary work is used as the means in delivering their message. Moreover, since Camus is considered as an existentialist, his work is

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also considered to bring some philosophical issues. Therefore, it is appropriate

to use Moral-Philosophical approach in this study. This approach emphasizes

that the function of literature is to deliver moral teaching and explores

philosophical issues within a context of the philosophical thought of a period

or group (Guerin, 1979:29).

Since this undergraduate thesis concerns on philosophical issue, that is

existentialism, that Camus tries to propose in his book The Stranger through

its main character, this approach is considered the most appropriate approach

to help the writer in the analysis.

C. Method of Study

Since this study is focused on literary work, the writer used library research to answer the problems that were already formulated in the previous chapter. It means that the writer took all the references from the library to support the analysis. In this thesis, there are two kinds of data that were used. They were primary and secondary data. The was a novel entitled The

Stranger, while the secondary data were several comments and critics on the novel and the author taken from books and online articles and also some books of theories were used to support the secondary data.

There are some steps conducted in the analysis part. First, reading the novel in detail. Having been interested with the story in the novel, other thesis and other data related to The Stranger were read to gain an original topic to discuss in the thesis. Other books, such as A Glossary of Literary Terms, and

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Understanding Unseens were also used in order to understand the theory of character and characterization. The writer also employed other data concerning on philosophy and literature.

Second, analyzing the data. The analysis process was done by answering the problem formulations raised in the previous chapter. Since the first problem formulation is about the main character’s characteristics, the theory of character and characterization was used. This theory was combined with the events which happened in the novel. Then, the second problem formulation was answered by giving a full attention to the main character’s charateristics that show the idea of existentialism and the way the writer delivers the idea of existentialism through the main character. In this step the theory of existentialism is used.

Third, drawing conclusion as the final step of this research. This process was done by summarizing the answers of the problem formulations and selecting the important points of the research.

CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

This undergraduate thesis concerns on the main character of the novel and his importance in delivering Camus’ ideas of existentialism. The discussion will be divided into two parts based on the problem formulation stated in the previous chapter. Firstly, this study will answer the question related to the main character’s characterization. Secondly, it will discuss about the ideas of existentialism revealed through the main character.

A. The Characterization of the Main Character.

In chapter II, it is already stated that characterization is very important in order to lead the readers to understand the story. Through the characters’ speeches, action or the author’s narration, the reader can follow the plot and understand it well. It means that characterization can help the reader to get the message or the idea brought by the story.

In the novel, The Stranger, Camus employs the main character as his means to deliver his ideas. Here, Meursault is the main character in the novel. He becomes the central of the story. The story is focused on Meursault’s character. The way he thinks and acts, his point of view and attitudes are explored in the story.

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Meursault as the main character in the story is an absurd man. He absurdly sees everything surrounds him and the events he faces in his life. Therefore, it is not surprising anymore that the dominant atmosphere in the story is absurd. According to

Stanton, the way a man who has an existentialism belief lives is absurd. Meaning to say that the characterization of Meursault as an absurd man proves that Meursault is

Camus’ means to deliver his ideas on existentialism. In short, absurdity becomes the essential characteristic of existentialism.

In the analysis, the writer focuses on the characterization of the main character as the means to deliver the ideas of existentialism. Meursault’s characterization is very important to help the reader understand the whole story and later on to grasp the ideas

Camus tries to offer.

Meursault is described as a unique person. What he does is really different from others. It can be said that the way he thinks and acts against the mainstream. He refuses the social-determined attitude. In the end of the story, his different attitude leads him to be regarded as a dangerous person for the citizen.

In order to gain deeper understanding on Meursault’s character, the discussion of

Meursault’s characteristics is divided into some points.

1. Honest

Meursault is an honest man. He never about his own feeling. When Marry, his girlfriend, asks him whether he loves her or not, Meursault tells her that he thinks that he does not love her. 30

“…she wanted to know if I loved her. I answered the same way I had the last time, that it didn’t mean anything but that I probably didn’t love her ” (1942: 41).

In this case, Meursault tells the truth about his feeling. He feels that he could not feel love toward Marie. He does not want to tell a lie about his true feeling. Meursault’s inability to love Marie happens because he thinks that love is not a serious matter and that love does not mean anything in his life. His belief that love is not a serious matter is seen through his own speech; he states that love did not mean anything to him.

His honesty also appears in his mother’s death through his reaction. Meursault does not want to pretend that he was in mourning because of his mother death since he does not feel the sadness. He does not want to give false tears at his mother’s funeral. Moreover, he also does not want to see his mother for the last time before the funeral. He knows that his attitude is inappropriate according to the society. What he did does not fulfill what the society demanded.

“He stuttered a little “We put the cover on, but I’m supposed to unscrew the casket so you can see her.” He was moving toward the casket when I stopped him. He said, “You don’t want to?” I answered, “No” (1942:6).

The question appears then, why Meursault does not show any grief in the funeral.

This happened because he loses his ability to recognize his own feeling. He said this fact in jail when the lawyer asked him about his feeling when his mother died.

“He asked if I had felt sadness that day…I answered that I had pretty much lost the habit of analyzing myself and that it was hard for me to tell him what he wanted to know” (1942: 65).

In this sense, Meursault is honest because he does not want to show the feeling he does not feel. He cannot feel the sadness when his mother died, so he does not want 31

to act as if he was sad and depressed. Telling what he really feels to his lawyer also becomes another evidence of his honesty. Hearing this statement, the lawyer asks him not to say it in the trial. The lawyer intends to state that Meursault tends to hide his natural feeling about his mother’s death rather than show it to the people in the funeral. But Meursault refuses to tell what is not true.

“He made me promise I wouldn’t say that at my hearing or in front of the examining magistrate…he asked me is he could say that day I had held back my own natural feeling. I said, “No, because it’s not true.” ” (1942:65).

Another evidence of his honesty can be seen in the trial. When he was asked about the reason of his killing an Arab, he said that he never plans to kill the Arab, the reason of his action, killing the Arab, is because of the sun. At that moment the sun was so hot. The glare of the sun burned Meursault’s body. Meursault could not stand to stay still in the hot sun. Then he put his revolver and shot the Arab as his reaction toward the glare of the sun. He tends to be honest to say what really happens that there is no certain motive of his action rather than telling a lie. Even though he has the chance to defend himself by stating that his action as a form of self-defense since the Arab brings a knife.

2. Brave

Meursault is also a brave man. His bravery can be seen through his action and his nature of being honest. Though his honesty endangers his own life, Meursault still keeps his honesty. His bravery can be seen when he honestly said that he kills the

Arab as his response towards the glare of the sun. Surely his confession makes his 32

position as the suspect of the murder becomes worse. After listening to his statement, all the audience laughed. Afterwards his lawyer asks for a break since he realizes that

Meursault’s statement will worsen Meursault’s own position. It proves that Meursault is the one who must be responsible for the murderer.

Another evidence that shows his bravery is seen at the end of the story. At last,

Meursault was sentenced to death. His death penalty is done by cutting his head off in the public square. In the last sentences he shows his bravery by saying:

“I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate” (1942:123).

In this quotation, it is clearly seen that Meursault faces his death bravely. To get his head cut off, moreover in front of many people, is a tragic thing to happen. But he faces his tragic death bravely. It also proves his acceptance of the punishment as the consequences of killing the Arab. He is also ready for the possibility that there will be a lot of people who mocked him and yelled hateful things to him.

3. Atheist

Another thing that differs Meursault from other characters is his view towards

God. Meursault is a man who does not believe in God’s existence. His disbelief towards God’s existence is seen when he was persuaded to depend his life on God since God is considered as The One who owns the ability to help him out from his problem. He was also forced to ask for God’s forgiveness for what he had done, 33

killing a person. When talking about God, Meursault responds it indubitably; he strongly said that he does not believe in God.

“…and asking me if I believed in God. I said no. He sat down indignantly. He said it was impossible; all men believed in God, even those who turn their backs on him” (1942:69).

It is obvious that he does not believe in God, that he is an atheist. He is fully aware of his statement; there is no doubt in his statement.

He also states his atheism when the chaplain visits him in jail. He has refused the chaplain’s visit for three . In the fourth time he also refused the visit, but the chaplain insists on seeing him without his permission. The chaplain asks him the reason why he does not want to see him. He says that it is because he does not believe in God (1942:116).

He refuses to discuss about god and asks the chaplain to leave him since he does not want to waste his time talking about God.

“ He wanted to talk to me about God again, but I went up to him and made one last attempt to explain to him that I had only a little time and I didn’t want to waste it on God…”(1942:120)

Then, he criticizes the chaplain about his belief. He thinks that the chaplain seems so certain about everything but indeed he was not sure at all.

“He seemed so certain about everything, didn’t he? …he wasn’t even sure he was alive, because he living as a dead man…but I was sure about everything, surer that he could ever be, sure of my life, and sure of the death I was waiting for me” (1942:120)

In this quotation, Meursault criticizes the chaplain that a man who depends his life on

God is a man who is not sure about himself so that he has to depend his life on 34

another thing. His statement really shocks the chaplain. He gets depressed and leaves the cell with his eyes full of tears.

4. Independent

By his own action and speech, Meursault shows himself as an independent man.

He does not want to depend his life on someone else. There are two things that people usually depend their life on. They are; God and other human beings. Unlike the others, Meursault tends to rely his life on himself. He refuses dependence.

His independence towards God can be seen in his belief on atheism. People usually depend on God when there is no way out of their problem. They tend to leave their burden of life in God’s hand. However, Meursault does not do the same thing.

Although he is trapped in a difficult condition, he remains on being dependent. When the magistrate comes to him to persuade him to ask for God’s help and rely on Him, he refuses the offer. According to Meursault, to depend on God or not is a choice.

The magistrate’s choice is to depend his life on God, but it is also Meursault’s choice to be independent from God (1942:69).

Meursault’s independence is also seen through his ability to avoid dependence towards others. His being independent towards others can be seen explicitly in his speech when he talks to the chaplain,“I acknowledge that that was their right…as for me, I didn’t want anybody’s help,…(1942:117). He tells the chaplain that he is different from those who need others’ help, he emphasizes his independence by stating that he does not need anybody’s help. 35

Another evidence of his independence is seen through his relationship with Marie.

Generally, people who are in love are automatically dependent on their lover. The example is Perez’s relationship with Meursault’s mother. When Meursault’s mother died, Perez gets so depressed. He is so sad of losing his lover and has no willing to stay alive. It is clearly seen that a person who is in love is dependent on the one he loves. On the contrary, Meursault does not do the same thing. He does not want to depend his life on Marie, his lover. Unlike the effect of Perez’s lover’s death, the possibility of Marie’s death did not affect Meursault. He said, “Remembering Marie meant nothing to me. I wasn’t interested in her death” (1942:115). His statement proves that Marie’s existence does not affect him. It shows that Meursault has an absolute independence.

As well as Marie, the presence of Meursault’s mother does not make him being dependence. His mother’s death does not change anything in his life. His mother’s death is an ordinary thing to him. It is seen in the beginning of the novel.

“ 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 meant anything. Maybe it was yesterday” (1942:3).

This quotation shows that his mother’s death is not a serious matter for him. It seems that it is just an ordinary message, not a shocking message. He responds it calmly and does not get depressed.

5. Responsible

Meursault is a responsible man. He is aware that people judge him as a guilty man and he has to be responsible of what he had done. His responsibility can be seen in 36

his own speech, “All they had told me that I was guilty. I was guilty, I was paying for it, and nothing more could be asking from me” (1942:118). His speech proves that he is a responsible man. He takes the consequences of his action, killing the Arab, and is willing to pay for his action by accepting his punishment.

6. A man who breaks social value

Meursault is a man who breaks social values. He refuses the social determination.

He often acts differently from other people. His point of view and attitudes are often contradictory from other people normally have.

His being different is seen in his attitudes at his mother’s funeral. He refuses to see his mother’s dead body. Although he knows that it breaks the social tradition, he insists on doing it. The thing that people commonly want to do when the one they love departed is seeing the dead body for the last time, but Meursault refuses to do it.

“…but I’m supposed to unscrew the casket so you can see her.” He was moving to the casket when I stopped him. He said, “You don’t want to?” I answered “No.” he was quiet and I was embarrassed because I felt I shouldn’t have said that.” (1942:6).

This quotation shows that actually Meursault knows that his refusal to see his mother dead body is unusual and it breaks society’s tradition. Moreover, during the vigil

Meursault even smokes and offers the caretaker a cigarette.

“Then I felt like having a smoke. But I hesitated, because I didn’t know if I could do it with Maman right there. I thought about it; it didn’t matter. I offered the caretaker a cigarette and we smoked” (1942:8).

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Although Meursault realizes that smoking in front of the departed is considered impolite in his society, he still does it. He thinks that smoking in front of the departed is not a problem.

After the funeral, swimming becomes his choice to be done. There he meets

Marie, a former typist in his office. Then he even asks Marie to watch a movie, a movie and makes love with her in his apartment (1942: 19-21). These activities surprise Marie because he has just lost his mother. His action is uncommon and unacceptable since what he does is contradictory with what people traditionally do when they have lost the one they love. Usually people still have not recovered from their sadness yet and cannot do other activities.

Another proof that he is a man who tends to break social value is his disbelief in

God’s existence. People traditionally believe in God’s existence, and considere that

God has to be respected and obeyed. God is the ruler of everything, including human being, and owns the power over everything in the universe. However, Meursault thinks differently. He that to believe or not in God is a choice, it is not a must. His disbelief towards God is absolutely opposing the social standard.

Meursault’s action to kill someone else becomes another proof that he breaks the social value. Killing is the most forbidden thing in the society. The religious belief that the society holds consider it as a sin while the society’s consider it as a major . But Meursault breaks it; he freely kills a man as the response of the glare of the sun. It is clear that Meursault does not obey the social value in his society. 38

Furthermore, he does not show any sign of remorse when he was asked about his action, he said, “I didn’t feel any remorse for what I’ve done” (1942:100).

His statement that he does not feel any remorse of his action is considered as a proof that he is man of no feeling, a cold-blooded man, who might endanger the citizen. Through his action and speech, it is obvious that Meursault is a man who tends to break social value. He is aware of what he has done and he is really sure about it.

In short, Meursault is a unique man. He is different from men in general. His uniqueness is seen from his attitudes and point of view. His view towards death, love and God is different from others. His naked honesty that is so pure about his own feeling is also a proof of his uniqueness, though in fact his honesty endangers his life he still keeps it as long as it is the truth. It means that he is also a man that highly values a truth. On the other hand, he is a man who does not have the feeling of humanity that is seen through the action of killing other people without certain motive. Furthermore he does not have any remorse of what he had done. But he is also a good friend. He often expreses his sympathy to his friend who was in sadness, as what he had done towards Salamono when he lost his dog. Meursault tries to make him feel better and shows his sympathy. Meaning to say that in spite of his action of killing someone else, he is also a good person. A responsible person who takes the consequences of what he had done.

Based on the explanation above it is difficult to classify Meursault as a good or bad person. The obvious thing that can be concluded is that he is a man who is always 39

sure about his mind and action. He never feels any remorse or sorry for what he had done because he thinks that he does the right thing. In other words, he has his own value and belief.

B. The Ideas of Existentialism Revealed through the Main Character

Albert Camus is a philosopher who is famous with his ideas on existentialism. He is also known as an absurdist because of his absurd theory on existentialism. It is not surprising anymore that his work is always connected with existentialism. Camus’ existentialism focuses on human being’s condition when they start to question the meaning of life and his or her existence. On this stage, human being will feel the feeling of absurd. It is what so called as absurdity.

In his work, The Stranger, Camus offers his ideas on existentialism. The Stranger is a story about a man who lives in absurdity. The main character in this story absurdly lives his life. He does not feel sad when his mother died. Furthermore, the day after the funeral, he goes to swim, watches a movie with a girl and has sex. At the end of the story the main character even kills a person as the response of the glare of the sun. He does not have certain motive in killing the person. He also does not have remorse of killing the person.

In this sense, the main character becomes Camus’ tool to deliver his ideas on existentialism. According to O’Brien in his book entitled Camus, Meursault, the main character in the novel, is Camus’ depiction. This name is also used by Camus as his pen name (1970:14). Meaning to say that Camus is intentionally used this name as 40

the main character in The Stranger as the representation of his thought. The ideas of existentialism in the story are seen in the way Meursault’s view on others and his environment, his response to the events he faces and his attitudes that are absurd.

Through Meursault’s speech, act and other’s point of view towards him, Camus delivers his ideas on existentialism.

The following discussion is mainly focused on Camus’ ideas on existentialism as revealed through the main character in The Stranger. The discussion is divided into some subtopics in order to give a more detailed explanation.

1. Meursault’s view towards God

As discussed in the first part of the analysis, Meursault is described as a man who does not believe in God’s existence. He is a man who lives with atheism belief. He believes that a man does not need anything else to help him running his life. A man has to depend his life on himself not on another. Though people commonly depend their life on God by living religious belief, Meursault chooses to have his own belief.

He lives apart from God’s existence and prefers not to have a religion.

Here Camus intentionally created Meursault’s character as a unique character.

Meursault’s character is different and opposing other characters. The contradiction is used purposely in order to deliver Camus’ ideas. Meursaults is used as Camus’ tool to convey his ideas about atheism belief.

In this story, Camus states his idea on atheism through Meursault character. The way Meursault refuses to believe in God’s existence is used by Camus to offer a model of life apart from God. According to Camus, God is only human’s imagination 41

because no one can feel God’s existence. God cannot be touched or smelled

(1955:16). Therefore, it is absurd to believe in God’s existence since no one can either touch or smell God.

In the story, Camus describes Meursault as someone who is responsive towards human’s senses. His sensitivity to human’s senses often appears in the story. One of them is found when his mother was buried.

“All of it-the sun, the smell leather and horse dung from the hearse, the smell varnish and incense, my fatigue after a without sleep making it hard for me to see and think straight” (1942:59).

It is obvious that the hot feeling of the sun and the stinky smell of the leather and horse dung can be felt strongly by him. The hot feeling also becomes Meursault’s motive to kill the Arab. The sun at the beach when the incident happened was very hot. It burned Meursault’s body and as the response towards the glare of the sun, he kills the Arab.

“The sun was starting to burn my cheeks, and I could feel drops of sweat gathering in my eyebrow. The sun was as the same it had been in the day I’d buried Maman,…all I could feel were the cymbals of sunlight crashing on my forehead…my whole being tensed and I squeezed my hand around the revolver”(1942:59).

Based on the quotation above, it is clearly seen that Meursault’s senses, in this case the hot feeling of the sun, really influences him. Even more, it arouses him to give a reaction and his reaction towards the glare of the sun is killing the Arab.

Meaning to say that material things seem to have a big influence on Meursault while an abstract thing, that is God, does not influence him. 42

By using Meursault’s characteristic of being sensitive towards the senses, Camus wants to emphasize that what exists is something which is able to be felt and what is absurd is something that cannot be felt. In fact, God is something that neither can be smelled nor can be touched. It means that God is something absurd that does not exist. Camus confronted the concept of God and the human’s senses in order to make the between what exists and what does not. Meursault’s in the story is a man who does not believe in God. By seeing his sensitivity towards the senses, it can be concluded that the reason why Meursault does not believe in God’s existence is because God cannot be felt by human’s senses.

Furthermore, according to Meursault, a man who depends his life on God is a man who is not sure about himself so that he has to depend his life on God. His statement is seen in his speech when the chaplain suggests him to give his life to God.

“He seemed so certain about everything, didn’t he? …he wasn’t even sure he was alive, because he living as a dead man…but I was sure about everything, surer that he could ever be, sure of my life, and sure of the death I was waiting for me” (1942:120)

His refusal to depend his life on God and his statement that a man who believes in

God is not sure about himself shows his absolute independence. He sees that a man who is not sure about himself is a man who has lost his existence, while Meursault is a man who is really sure about everything he does.

Sartre’s view on God also appears in the novel. He believes that God is the limitation of one’s freedom. He states that if God does not exist, people do not recognize the concept of God, everything would be permitted (Kaufman, 1956:295). 43

In The Stranger, Sartre’s view on God is seen in the plot when Meursault kills the Arab, people regards him as someone who does not have humanity. The minor characters in the story, the chaplain and the magistrate, recommended him to ask for

God’s forgiveness for what he has done.

Meursault’s action to kill the Arab is used by Camus to convey Sartre’s view on

God. As a person who denies God’s existence, Meursault is free to do what he wants to do because there is nothing that limits his freedom. Different from other characters’ point of view, represented by the chaplain and the Magistrate, killing is a crime and considered as a sin in religious belief, while Meursault thinks that his action is not a serious matter. This diversity in seeing the act of killing happened because of the influence of their view towards God. By seeing these two opposing views about the act of killing, it is obvious that people who believe in God’s existence have limited freedom, while people who do not believe in God’s existence have unlimited freedom.

This diversity in possessing freedom happens because of the through religious belief. The religious belief has some rules that must be obeyed by the follower. The concept of sin is used to limit the follower’s freedom. Therefore, it is obvious that the existence of God through religious belief is the limitation of one’s freedom.

A life entirely apart from God seems to be the focus of Camus’ ideas on existentialism. Meaning to say that an existence must be apart from God. People who want to find their existence must live without God and depend their life on 44

themselves. A total freedom is gained when God does not exist. This concept is inspired by Nietzsche. Nietzsche also stated that either belief or disbelief are optional attitudes (1952:21). Nietzsche’s influence in Camus’ existentialism is clearly seen through Meursault’s speech when the magistrate tries to make him believe in God.

According to Meursault, to depend on God or not is a choice. It is the magistrate’s choice to depend his life on God, but it is also his choice not to depend on God

(1942:69).

2. Meursault’s view towards love

The concept of love is also being explored in the story. Through Meursault’s view towards love, Camus wants to convey his ideas about love and offers a model of attitudes towards love. Camus states that love can blind people’s mind and make people forget their own existence (1955:54).

Meursault as the main character in the story has a unique attitude towards his lover. He is described as someone who seems to ignore his lover. It is proven in his statement that he does not love Marie.

“…she wanted to know if I loved her. I answered the same way I had the last time, that it didn’t mean anything but that I probably didn’t love her ” (1942: 41).

Based on the question above, it can be concluded that Meursault does not really regard love. In his opinion, whether he loves Marie or not is not a serious matter.

The way Meursault regards love is really different from the way common people regards love. How common people usually appreciate and value love is described through the minor characters in the story. 45

Through the minor characters in the story, Perez , Salamono and Marie, Camus wants to describe how people commonly regard love and treat their lover. Perez is described as someone who lives for love; he dedicated his love for his lover, Maman.

Meaning to say that love and the existence of his lover are really important in his life, his lover’s existence becomes his to continue live. This attitude can be seen when Maman died. He gets so depressed. He takes her death very hard. He finds it difficult to face the that Maman has died. It is proven in the way he wants to get closer all the time with Maman’s coffin. It is hard for Perez to continue his life after the death of his lover. It means that his lover’s existence is more prior then his own existence. He ignores his own existence.

The same condition is also experienced by Salamono. After his wife’s death, he seems very lonely. He needs other things to fill his . He takes over a dog in order to run away from his . The dog seems to be used as the replacement of his wife’s existence and when the dog is lost, he comes to the same point, got so depressed. Salamono’s attitudes prove that he is a dependent man. Other’s existence is really important in his life. It is obvious then that Salamono forgets his own existence by having someone or something else in his life since other’s existence is more important for him rather than his own existence. His desperation of losing the one he loves is the proof that he does not care of his own existence.

Marie is described as a faithful person, she wholeheartedly loves Meursault without any doubt and takes all its consequences. Her faithfulness is seen when

Meursault was judged as a murderer. She does not care about it. Moreover she is 46

more in love with him during the trial. Furthermore, she still wants to marry

Meursault even though she knows that Meursault does not love her. Her way of loving and her loyalty towards Meursault is a proof that she is blinded by love. Her willingness to give her whole heart without any doubt and dedicate her life to

Meursault becomes the evidence that Marie forgets her own existence.

By using these three characters, Camus wants to show that love can make people forget their own existence. The way they love their lover drives them to forget their self. Perez and Salamono find it hard to continue their life because of losing the one they love, while Marie becomes so dependent towards her lover. Their being dependent on another becomes a proof of the forgetfulness of self. They lose their own existence because they depend their life on others and dedicated their life on others. Moreover, they think that other’s existence is more important rather than their own existence. Here, Camus wants to emphasize that love can be the obstacle for people to find their self.

Meursault, Camus’ tool to deliver his ideas on existentialism, denies love.

Meursault does not want to be blinded by love. He wants to be free from other’s influence and becomes an independent person. According to Meursault, love is not a serious thing. When Marie asks him to marry her, he accepts her will. But when

Marie asks him whether he loves her or not, he says that he does not love Marie.

“That evening Marie came by to see me and asked if I wanted to marry her. I said it didn’t make any difference to me and that we could if she wanted to. Then she wanted to know if I loved her. I answered the same way I had the last time, that it didn’t mean anything but that probably I didn’t love her” (1942:41). 47

The quotation above shows that he does not really regard love as a significant matter. He also does not take marriage as a serious thing.

“So why marry me, then?” she said. I explained to her that it didn’t really matter and that if she wanted to, we could get married. Besides, she was the one who was doing the asking and all I was saying was yes. Then she pointed out that marriage is a serious thing. I said, “No.” she stopped talking for a minute and looked at me without saying anything. Then she spoke. She just wanted to know if I would have accepted the same proposal from another woman, with whom I was involved in the same way. I said “Sure.” Then she said she wondered if she loved me, there was no way I could know about that” (1942:41-42).

Here, it is obvious that Meursault does not take marriage and love as a serious matter. The way he sees love is really different from others. Marriage is considered as a serious relationship in the society, but it is not a serious thing for Meursault.

Through the variety of treating love, Camus wants to explain that love can blind people’s . It happens to the minor characters; Perez, Salamono and also Marie.

The three of them give their whole heart to their lover that leads them to ignore their own self. They become dependent on their lover. While, Meursault does not want to be blinded by love, he can be an independent man and is not really affected by his lover. It is proven in his own speech that the possibility of Marie’s death does not really influence his life. He said, “Remembering Marie meant nothing to me. I wasn’t interested in her death” (1942:115).

The death of the one one’s love can be something that is really depressing, even thinking about the possibility is already terrifying. But, for Meursault it means nothing. 48

Through Meursault’s strangeness of seeing love, Camus wants to offer a model of life apart from love. People should be independent and do not depend on others. It is proven that love can blind people’s minds. People are uneasy to stand to live when they have lost the one they love, in the novel it is represented through the minor characters. It is easier to stand to live when people are not blinded by love.

According to Camus love is the same as suicide because people who give their heart to love cannot liberate themselves. They depend on their lover. Therefore, when they lost their lover, they cannot stand to live. It means that they do not regard their own existence by having the relationship.

3. Meursault’s view towards death

The story begins with the death of Meursault’s mother and Meursault’s journey to the place where his mother will be buried. The strong atmosphere that can be felt in this part is absurdity. Meursault gives a strange reaction about his mother’s death.

The absurd feeling can be felt when the news of his mother’s death arrived, Meursault responds to it calmly.

“Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know. I got telegram from the home: “Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.” That doesn’t mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday” (1942:3).

It is strange since what he is concerned with is the time when his mother died not the content of the message that his mother died. This statement clearly shows that

Meursault’s mother death does not give a big influence on Meursault. He does not feel sad and consider it as an ordinary thing to happen. Moreover, his attitude during 49

the funeral is unusual; he refuses to see his mother for the last time. He smokes during the vigil and does not show grief for losing his mother.

The absurd feeling Meursault shows is described through other character’s point of view.

“The investigators had learned that I had “shown insensitivity” the day Maman’s funeral”. “You understand,” my lawyer said, “it’s very embarrassing for me to have to ask you this. But it’s very important. And it will be a strong argument for the prosecution if I can’t come up with some answers.”…he asked if I had felt any sadness that day” (1942:64).

His insensitivity becomes supported evidence in his trial that he is a cold-blooded man who has no feeling. His reaction is absurd since the one who died is his mother and he does not show any grief for losing his mother.

The director of the home where Maman lived also becomes one of the witnesses in the trial who states about Meursault’s attitudes in his mother’s death.

“The director then looked down of his shoes and said that I hadn’t cried once, and that I had left right after the funeral without paying my last respects at her grave” (1942:89).

It is clear that Meursault does not feel sad when his mother died. He left the graveyard soon after the funeral had finished and did not give his last respect for his mother. What he did is really strange since what people usually do when their mother died is staying in the graveyard longer than anybody else in order to give their respect to the departed.

Another proof of Meursault insensitivity is stated by that caretaker of the home, who states that Meursault had not wanted to see his mother for the last time and he had smoked, slept during the vigil and had some coffee and cigarettes (1942:90). 50

Marie’s witnesses about the day she had spent with Meursault after his mother’s death becomes another evidence of Meursault’s coldness towards his mother’s death.

“So he asked Marie to describe briefly that day when I had first known her. Marie did not want to, but at the prosecutor’s insistence, she went over swim, the movies, and going back to my palace” (1942:94).

These proofs show that Meursault does not feel sadness of losing his mother; he seems to forget his mother’s death easily. His attitude during his mother’s funeral does not really fit with what is demanded by the society. What people commonly do during the funeral of their family is represented in the minor characters’ points of view. While Meursault does not do the same thing as required by the society, his disobedience to the society’s norms is considered inappropriate. It is stated by the prosecutor.

“Indeed, the gentleman of the jury will note of the fact. And they will concluded that a stranger may offer a cup of coffee, but that beside the body of the one who brought him into the world, a son should refused it (1942:91).

It is obvious that Meursault’s attitude is against the social norms. According to society, represented by the prosecutor, a son should show his sadness at his mother funeral. But Meursault does not do the same thing; he sees his mother’s death as a usual thing to happen.

In Meursault’s point of view, death is something that happens sooner or later. It is the reason why he does not take his mother death as a serious matter.

“Then he explained that he’d heard about Maman’s death but that was one of those things that it was bound to happen sooner or later. I thought so too (1942:33).

51

The quotation above shows that Meursault sees death as a natural thing that happens in human’s life. It will come to human’s life sooner or later as what had happened to his mother.

Death seems to be one of Camus’ focus in his existentialism. Through

Meursault’s characterization, Camus wants to deliver his ideas about death.

According to Camus, everything people do in their life will be stopped by death.

Death is the only thing that has in the world. As the part of a cycle of life, death is the end of life. It seems that life is useless since everything we do will be stopped by death. Many people think that life is not worth living and many others think the opposite. People who believe that life is not worth living die by committing suicide and people who believe that life is worth living getting killed by the ideas that give them the reason for living (1955:4). The best thing that people should do, according to Camus, is not to commit suicide but to be fully aware of the absurdity of the world, accept absurdity and live with it. The best solution for people is to struggle by living the absurd as long as possible. It means that man has to struggle to live in the world that is absurd.

Meursault, as Camus’ means to deliver his ideas, regards death as a usual thing.

It is a natural thing that happens in people’s lives. Meursault does not want to take the death of his mother as a thing to be regretted. He is fully aware that people’s lives will be stopped by death. He accepts his mother’s death and continues his life.

Meursault is a type of man Camus proposes who keeps struggling to live in the absurdity of life. He is different from other characters, represented through Perez and 52

Salamono, who lost their spirit of life because of the death of the one, who gave them the reason to live.

4. Meursault’s view towards freedom

Freedom seems to be the main focus in existentialism. Almost all of the philosophers emphasize their existentialism on freedom. As stated in the previous chapter, existentialism is defined as;

An approach to ethics that emphasizes individual subjectivity-freedom and responsilbility, and the irrational as primary features of human condition (Roth, 1995:294).

According to this definition it can be concluded that individual subjectivity- freedom and responsibility that follows the freedom is the focus of existentialism.

Furthermore, absurdity becomes the primary characteristic of existentialism.

In the story, Meursault is described as a man who has an absolute freedom. There is nothing that is able to limit his freedom. He does not believe in God’s existence therefore God also cannot limit his freedom. The event that shows Meursault’s existentialism is the moment when he kills the Arab. He kills the Arab without a certain motive. When he is asked about the reason why he kills the Arab, he stated that the only reason that arouses him to kill the Arab is the glare of the sun. From his statement, it is clear that he is a free man and owns absolute freedom. His freedom can be seen through his action of killing the Arab. His action shows how free he is so that he can do such action to respond to the glare of the sun.

Meursault’s action to kill the Arab can be seen by using Nietzsche’s point of view. This action can be regarded as the manifestation of Nietzsche’s theory, ‘Man 53

and Superman’. According to Nietzsche ‘Man’ is an ordinary man, a person who obeys the rules around him, who follows the values given by the society and fulfills the society’s demands. While ‘Superman’ is a term used for a man who has the ability to transgress the rules around him. ‘Superman’ is a man who bravely performs his instinct. He or she is a person who has the ability to create his or her own value (1956:50).

In this sense, Meursault is regarded as ‘Superman’ since he bravely performs his instinct. He disobeys the society’s rule by killing the Arab. Moreover, Meursault does not feel any remorse of what he has done. According to him, what he has done is not a serious matter. His being ‘Superman’ is clearly seen in his speech, “I didn’t feel any remorse for what I’ve done” (1942:100).

His statement that he does not feel any remorse for what he has done strengthens the idea of being ‘Superman’. It proves that Meursault has his own value that is very different from the society’s value.

Even though he does not feel any remorse for what he has done, Meursault wants to be responsible for his action. He confesses his action in the trial that he is the one who kills the Arab as the response of the glare of the sun and accepts his punishment as the consequence of his action.

Meursault’s responsibility is also seen as an attitude of an existentialist.

According to Sartre, man has to be responsible for the commitment he makes and the action he takes (1956:304). Meursault is a man who holds his commitment and he is a responsible man. His responsibility is seen through his own speech in the trial. 54

“I told him I didn’t know what a sin was. All they had told me that I was guilty. I was guilty, I was paying for it, and nothing more could be asking from me” (1942:118).

It is obvious that Meursault is responsible for his action; he accepts his punishment as the consequences of his action.

Freedom as a basic need for human being is explored deeply in the novel.

Through Meursault’s attitude, killing the Arab, Camus explores his existentialism.

An absolute freedom that followed by a total responsibility is Camus’ ideas of existentialism he offers through the main character in his novel.

From the discussion above, it can be concluded that the novel, The Stranger, contains the ideas of existentialism. Camus employs the main character as his means to deliver his ideas of existentialism. Through Meursault’s characterization, the ideas of existentialism are revealed. Meursault’s point of view, attitudes and speech shows the ideas of existentialism. Here, in the story, God, love, death, and freedom are the focuses of the discussion in the thesis. Meursault’s view towards these things are very different from what common people have in their mind.

Meursault denies the existence of God, he does not believe in God. In his opinion, people who believe in God are people who are not sure about themselves.

His disbelief in God becomes his manifestation to show his existence.

His attitude towards love is also different from other people’s attitudes. He does not permit love to take his existence since many people forget their own existence because of love. Therefore, he does not really regard the value of love. It is seen through his attitude towards his lover, that he always says that he does not love her 55

and that love is not a serious matter. His attitude towards love becomes his effort to keep his existence. Thus, love is forgetfulness of self.

Meursault also sees death differently. He does not feel sad at his mother’s funeral. It happens because according to Meursault death is an ordinary thing to happen. It is only a matter of time. Death comes sooner or later. Hence, Meursault does not take death, as a miserable thing and that it does not need to be sorry.

Meursault’s existentialism is also clearly seen in his action of killing the Arab.

Through his action it is obvious that Meursault is a man who has an absolute freedom. He kills the Arab only because of the glare of the sun. This fact shows how free he is, that as the response towards the sun, he can freely kill someone else. On this point, Camus strongly portrays his ideas of existentialism through the main character in the story.

In the whole of the story, Camus creates an absurd atmosphere. The absurdity can be felt in the main character’s attitudes. It happens since that main character absurdly lived his life. His absurdity is the essential characteristic of his existentialism. Meursault’s way of life is very different from others; the way he views life, his attitudes and his speeches are peculiar. That is the reason why it is absurd to see Meursault’s life.

According to Camus an existence can be gained when men have an absolute freedom, while God is the limitation of one’s freedom. It means that an existence of human being must be separated from God’s existence. An absolute freedom has to be followed by a total responsibility. Moreover, Love is something that makes people 56

forget their own existence since they live for others and death is the certain thing that will happen in human’s life. Everything people do in their life will be stopped by death. However, suicide is not the best solution to end a life, but to struggle is the thing that people should do to face the absurd world. People who have existentialism belief are absurdly living their life. Meaning to say that absurdity becomes the essential characteristic of existentialism.

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

The Stranger is a novel about a man who lives in an absurd life. Meursault as the main character in the novel lives his life differently. He is different from other characters in the way he sees life. His being different has a significant role in delivering the ideas of existentialism. Through his speech, action and other character’s point of view about him, the ideas of existentialism are revealed.

In the novel, Meursault is described as a man who has unique characteristics.

He is man who does not believe in God’s existence. He is also a man who keeps his honesty; he highly values truth and also a good friend for others. But on the other hand, he is a man who gives an impression that he does not have the feeling of humanity. He kills a man without certain motive. His action is merely a respond towards the glare of the sun that burns his body at the beach. The most obvious thing about him is that he is a man who is really aware of his action. He is always sure about everything he does and responsible for the consequences of his action.

By paying a great attention on Meursault’s characteristics, the writer finds some principles of existentialism portrayed in Meursault’s characteristics. There are four points that have been discussed in relation with the ideas of existentialism

Camus tries to offer.

The first is Meursault’s view towards God. Meursault is someone who denies the existence of God. In his point of view, a man who believes in God is not sure about himself. God cannot be felt by human’s senses, meaning to say that God’s existence is deniable.

The second is Meursault’s view towards love. The way Meursault sees love is different from other characters. He does not want to give his whole heart to his lover as other characters do. He believes that love can blind people’s mind. A man who gives his whole heart and dedicates his life towards his lover will ignore their own self. Meaning to say that love is forgetfulness of the self.

The third is Meursault’s view towards death. According to Meursault, death is natural thing that will happen to every person. Death is a part of the cycle of life. It comes sooner or later. Therefore, it is to get depressed because of one’s death. Death is something that unnecessary to be regretted.

The last is Meursault’s view towards freedom. An absolute freedom has to be owned by a man. A freedom that does not has its limit. In the story, there is nothing that can limit Meursault’s freedom. He does everything freely, including kills someone else. Although a man should have an absolute freedom, a total responsibility should follow one’s freedom. In this sense, one should be responsible of what he had done.

Through Meursault’s characteristics, Camus wants deliver his ideas on existentialism that an existence requires a total freedom. A total freedom should be owned without any limit. Since God, through religious belief, can be limitation of

one’s freedom, men should live apart from God’s existence. A total freedom should be followed by a total responsibility. A man should be responsible for his action.

Moreover, absolute independence is needed to gain an existence. Thus love can be the obstacle of one’s independence. Love is forgetfulness of the self since people who give their whole heart for love will ignore their own existence. Such love should be avoided. Furthermore, one’s life will be ended by death. Death is natural thing to happen and it stops everything people do in their life. However, suicide is not the best solution to end a life, but to struggle is the thing that people should do to face the absurd world. This belief leads people to behave absurdly. In short, absurdity becomes the essential characteristic of existentialism. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. New York: Holt, Rineheart and Winston, 1981

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