The Stranger

Obviously, when one examines the title of this staggering tale, it is not expected to see an “insider” presented. This is the case for “The Stranger” as Meursault begins the story as an “outsider”. While this story does not do a great job of answering my original Big Question, which was “How does one become and “insider” and “outsider”,” it does a superb job of showing that pure passion with regards to an “outsider” such as Meursault can result in crazy actions and failed attempts to regain a position in society. While the reasons for Meursault’s ruthless killing of the Arab are never is explained, I believe his actions acted as an attempt to fit in with Raymond and the rest of his so-called friends. However, Meursault’s pure passion at trying to stand up for his friends leads him down an irreversible path that eventually leads to his death. The uniqueness in Meurault’s situation is that we find an “outsider” trying to become an “insider,” which has not been the case in the other novels read in class. Ultimately, Meursault understands all too late that he is different and realizes, as he sits in the jail cell awaiting the guillotine, that he had found his own form of happiness being an “outsider” before murdering the Arab.