At the end of the novel, Meursault is able to reflect and look within himself after the chaplain visits him for the last time. He lashes out at the holy man for pestering him with guilt that he wants no part of. By confronting the chaplain, Meursault is able to reach a sort of closure and identify with what he believes truly matters. He is sure of himself, and feels irritated with this priest whose claims aren't warranted by any real justification in Meursault's eyes. He comes to the conclusion that nothing truly matters, that since we are all destined to die, nothing should matter to him. In his opinion, nothing that we do on Earth will affect us any differently after death than it will the next man. Meursault also comes to terms with his mother's death, understanding why she took a fiance at such an old age. Now close to death himself, Meursault identifies with the liberating essence of the evening, bringing out a refreshing feeling, ambition to live life over again.
I don't think that Camus wants us to come to the same conclusion, at least not just because we think that's what he wants. I believe that Camus wants us to reflect on what the Stranger is saying about life, about what its meaning is, and to form our own explanation. I don't believe he expected everyone who read his book to agree with him necessarily, but rather to contemplate their existence and think about what we are doing and why we are doing it rather than just blindly following our habits and tendencies.
No comments:
Post a Comment