"The Outsider" - I Am Me

Essay by xThricexUniversity, Bachelor'sA, April 2006

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"The absurd man will not commit suicide; he wants to live, without relinquishing any of his certainty, without a future, without hope, without illusions, and without resignation either. He stares at death with passionate attention and this fascination liberates him. He experiences the "divine irresponsibility" of the condemned man." (Sartre; 1943)

Mersault is an "absurd" man. He lives his life as though it were almost pointless and conveys very little emotion throughout "The Outsider". In this sense, Mersault seems detached from the world, but in actuality, Mersault sees the world through a unique perspective. He is a truthful man that tells it as he sees it and is honest with his feelings and emotion.

Emily is an innocent young girl, playing houses in the bow and enjoying her fun, yet simple life when she suddenly has the realization that she is "she." Emily is seen like an everyday individual - playing, thinking and laughing the day away, whereas Mersault is seen as "an outsider."

Mersault shows no signs of sadness when his mother dies and shoots a man simply because he felt like it; he had a headache, the sun was glaring in his eyes and the man he shot had conflict with his friend Raymond. When Mersault is questioned in court he is asked to show some remorse but he doesn't show any, even to save his life - he is truthful about his feelings to the end.

Emily and Mersault are two different people from two very different worlds, but both have something in common: they both have a sudden realization about life. Emily's experience occurs far earlier in her life than Mersault's. Emily is ten years old and suddenly realizes that she is alive. She suddenly realizes the miracle of life and how she came to...