Freedom and Death in the Outsider in relation to Camus’ philosophy

In The Outsider, Camus’ views on freedom and death are important themes. For Camus, freedom happens in an awareness of one’s life. The every moment life, “an intense glorious life that needs no redeeming, no regrets, no tears.” Death is undeniable and absurd. It is not anything but a continuous recycling into the cosmos for a “free” man. Until a person reaches this awareness: life, like death, is absurd, and without a doubt life remains absurd although each persons life can be valuable and meaningful to him or her. In a matter of speaking, The Outsider is a mirror of Camus’ philosophy, with stress on that which is needed for freedom. Meursault, hero of TheOutsider, is not a person one would want to meet in this respect. Meursault does not accomplish “the awakening of consciousness”, so necessary to freedom and to living Camus’ philosophy until nearly the end of the book. Yet, he has lived his life in according with the ethics of Camus’ philosophy.

Meursault is...