The Stranger

A Little reminder of my big question: Does facing adversity/failure strengthen or hinder ones potential?

Camus' novel, "The Stranger," is another book where the answer to my Big Question does not follow the previous trends of the works of literature we read first semester. The protagonist of the novel holds similar traits to that of Raskolnikov from "Crime & Punishment." He is alienated from society like Raskolnikov, but unlike him Meursault holds a "gentle indifference" to the world, and is emotionally detached-- a passive observer who never passes judgement on others. Because of such characteristics, when Meursault is faced with the death of his mother and then is tried and convicted of murder, his potential is neither strengthened nor hindered-- it just is. He remarks upon the physical state of things and never denies he is guilty of murder, but it also has little emotional effect on him. Typically in the other works we read, such series of events would be the spark in starting a process that leads to either self- betterment or to self destruction. Meursault's gentle indifference, and his embodiment of Camus' Philosophy of the Absurd, are key components in making him one of the few protagonist that responds with a neutral answer to my big question.