A Life from Far

“A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn’t mean anything but that I didn’t think so” (35).  Marie: a sex symbol to Monsieur Meursault. She is simply another object in this protagonist’s surroundings.

               Meursault, a man of many actions, does not portray emotions towards these. His relationship towards Marie sprouts, however his love and affection remains like stone.

      This protagonist is abstruse about his attachments to the world, and declares this by building relationships that have no significance. “...but I tried my best to please Raymond because I didn’t have any reason not to please him.” Meurault's ;ack of sentiment leads to cruel and irrelevant conduct. He is a man who is just all right with his life. There are no complaints, and no desires. No dreams or ambitions, life to him is futile. For this reason, constants in his life such as light, weather, laughter, food, cigarette's, sex and the ocean are distinctive. They are either a complete pester or a prerequisite. Constants can be defined as infinite moments, that is the past and the future; but the present is always gone. “Only the words “yesterday” and “tomorrow” still had any meaning to me” (80).  Meurault believes that no experience is permanent, so each unprecedented detail in his life is new, innovative, and then dead. Maman’s death is exemplary towards this concept. Her essence although once persistent in his life, proved wrong when deceased. “ Darkness had gathered, quickly, above the skylight” (8). Meursault: an existentialist, understands he is existent, but just for the present.

         Existentialism is denial of one's own existence. No life is of worth, not even one's own.  No actions will implicate  value to a succession. Meurault is deliberately inhibiting himself from personal freedom. However, through his eyes its simply a matter of reality.
Reality is indefinite for an existentialist, for no presence is proved worthy, none is true.

         Many indian spiritual leaders state that unattachment to the world and life is the healthiest form of living. Nevertheless, this does not implicate living a "lifeless-life." Has Meursault got it all wrong? Has his lack of spirit diminished his existence of the present?