Existentialism in the Stranger

Existentialism can be perceived many different ways. Existential things are often absurd and confused in an unpredictable world. People who are existential have the feeling of alienation. They have the freedom of choice and responsibility for their actions. Though the author, Albert Camus, did not think his novel, The Stanger, was existential, it was considered to be the decisive piece of existential thought. This book exhibits absurdity, confusion within one’s world, and also alienation.
The Stranger has many absurd scenes that contribute to its existentialism. The book begins with the death of Maman Meursault. Monsieur Meursault, her son, does not show any emotions toward his loss. As people were mourning and crying at the vigil, Meursault isn’t. He sits there watching the others cry, especially one woman that he “… didn’t know who she was. I wished I didn’t have to listen to her anymore” (Camus 10).   It was strange that Meursault wasn’t crying when he lost his mother but people he didn’t know were crying. He does’t even want to listen to the cries. Then as the cries subside, Meursault thinks about everything beside his dead mother. He is thinking “… finally she shut up. I didn’t feel drowsy anymore, but I was tired and my back was hurting me. Now it was all these people not making a sound that was getting on my nerves” (11).   Meursault doesn’t want to listen to the cries and once the cries were gone, he doesn’t like the silence. He’s focusing on how he feels and his surroundings.   At many wakes, people are extremely upset and numb, only focusing on their loss. Meursault reacts opposite than most people, he seemed indifferent. The next absurd scene occurs the next day when Meursault sees Salamano. Salamano and his dog take two walks daily and “… he beats the dog and swears at it. The dog cowers and trails behind… When the dog wants to urinate, the old man won’t give him enough time and yanks him… If the dog has an accident in the room, it gets beaten again....