In the first part of Albert Camus’ The Stranger, we discover that Meursault is an ordinary man who works as a clerk in the shipping industry. He is satisfactory at his job, but not extraordinary. Each day Meursault does the bare minimum at his workplace (just enough to get by). In the second part of the novel, Meursault is arrested for manslaughter (of an Arab), but put on trial for his unacceptable behavior at his mother’s funeral. The theme of Meursault finding no value in life or religion or love or existence becomes much more evident in this part of the novel. Meursault’s emotions, morality, character, and actions conflict with society, specifically when interacting with his boss and the magistrate.
In chapter five of part one, Meursault’s boss asks to see him. Meursault assumes that he is going to get lectured for talking on the phone too much and slacking off—this wasn’t the case at all. His boss asks him to give his opinion on a new office opening in Paris and to offer him a new position there. In response, Meursault replies, “I said yes but that it was all the same to me” (Camus, 41). His reaction is neutral, indifferent, emotionless, and apathetic. Observing this, Meursault’s boss is dissatisfied with the lack of ambition Meursault shows.
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Meursault’s boss is angry agitated and disappointed after this scene because Meursault’s actions contrast with his opinion on life and differ from what he expects from his employees. Meursault voices that staying or going would be the same for him. Meursault implies to his boss that one life is equivalent to another and that one doesn’t need to strive for anything, because nothing matters in the end. His boss’ frustration is exhibited when Meursault states, “He looked upset and told me that I never gave him a straight answer, that I had no ambition, and that that was disastrous business” (41). As a result, Meursault’s boss can be categorized as a person with a subjective meaning of life. He views the purpose of humanity by the value of their goals and achieving them; he believes that these ambitions will bring an individual their portion of pleasure; he thinks people should progress themselves over time by accomplishing more each day. Meursault’s boss sees a chance for Meursault to advance in his career and judges that the placement in Paris would be a suitable change of life for him. In summary, he is bothered because he handed Meursault the ladder to success, but Meursault didn’t want to climb it.
Meursault, on the other hand, defies the expectation of developing aspirations by having none in his life. Meursault mentions, “When I was a student, I had lots of ambitions like that. But when I had to give up my studies I learned very quickly that none of it mattered” (41). This illustration reveals how Meursault has a Nihilistic approach to life since he rejects all religious and moral principles and is convinced that life is pointless. He is an unemotional anti-hero with no goals—which shows his psychological detachment from the rest of society, particularly from people like his boss. Meursault is disrupting the expectation of having ambitious traits (such as hopes and dreams) and the expectation of professional growth that society expects him to have. Society has this expectancy because they believe everyone should have a place and purpose in society, for everyone to be stronger together. They feel that having ambitions allows one to navigate their journey, make their purposes, and complete their lives. Creating and pursuing goals according to society not only drives you ahead in life, but it helps you live your life to the fullest. With this, Meursault does not challenge or take anything society hands to him correctly; he lives his life on autopilot because he considers it meaningless.
In chapter one of part two, Meursault is taken to the magistrate for further examination. The magistrate begins to ask Meursault questions like “Why did you pause between the first shot and the second shot?” (67). Meursault answers very vaguely or doesn’t answer at all, showing no rational emotions; he talks about the physical aspects of the room instead. Soon, the irritated magistrate takes out a silver crucifix—which represents the behavior of someone after they commit a social offense—and asks Meursault if he believes in God. Meursault straightforwardly says no and has no significant reaction to the cross. The magistrate then says that his life would be meaningless without God and then calls him “Monsieur Antichrist” (71). In the end, Meursault explains, “The magistrate seemed to have lost interest in me and to have come to some sort of decision about my case” (70), which shows the magistrate's hopelessness towards Meursault.
The magistrate is exasperated enraged and perplexed after this scene because Meursault’s atheism contradicts his strong beliefs and Meursault’s deviant behavior gives him no explanation for his crimes. The magistrate cannot accept the fact that Meursault won’t turn to God and cannot establish why Meursault committed the immense offense. The magistrate concerningly asks Meursault, “Why? You must tell me. Why?” (68). This demonstrates that the magistrate is trying to find a reason and justification for Meursault’s actions for the murder. The magistrate is distinctly presented as an individual with a Theistic approach to life, who finds meaning in humanity through the superior plan made by a divine being. The magistrate stresses Meursault to redeem himself and ask for forgiveness from God. The magistrate’s despair and loathing towards Meursault is portrayed when he utters, “I have never seen a soul as hardened as yours” (69), concluding through Meursault’s responses to the crucifix and his overall actions (killing the Arab because of the sun and not being penitent) that he is a callous person. The magistrate ultimately realizes that there is no hope left for Meursault—hence naming him Monsieur Antichrist. The magistrate finds no logic or motive for Meursault’s acts and classifies him as an evil being due to not comprehending his ignorant worldview. He is furious because Meursault does not feel remorseful for what he did and treats this situation as an inconvenience rather than a sin.
Meursault, on the contrary, flouts the expectations of having regular feelings and being moral by not having emotions towards anything and being amoral. Meursault is asked if he felt sorry for his doings and his response is, “I thought about it for a minute and said that more than sorry I felt kind of annoyed” (70). From this statement, we can draw that his feelings stem from him being a Nihilist—opposite to the magistrate's Theism. He places no value on his trial, case, or life. Society expects everyone to conform to the notions of how to feel and behave in certain scenarios because it is a norm and it allows us to express and communicate with each other. The society also has an expectation of moral standards for everyone to follow to ensure balance within the community and to live civilized with one another. Society’s anticipation for Meursault to make distinctions between good and bad in his mind fails when he cannot realize the consequences of his actions. The magistrate is not persuaded to believe Meursault is a decent person. He is alienated because of his bizarre reactions and reprimanded for his nonconformist feelings and moral actions.
Even though Meursault is living as genuinely and realistically as he can, it is not accepted by his boss or the magistrate (or the rest of society). Meursault is a peculiar man who doesn’t indicate emotion towards things like promotions or murder. He is always only affected by his physical surroundings and has no appropriate logic to validate his behavior. Overall, Meursault is alienated from his society because he ignores all their fundamental rules and his absurd perspective on life.
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