And So, What's Your Reason?

Human beings are creatures that live for a reason. People grasp onto something that gives life a meaning: a reason to keep on living Some people bind to love, others to adventure, and others to God. Everyone's opinions differ, and there is no one that can tell you how to live your life. 

Monsieur Mersault, has a rather odd view for life. Through out the book, I've noticed he only describes what's going on and lives for the moment. That is his way of living his life. He doesn't seem to feel. He doesn't seem to care. It doesn't mean he is a terrible person, or that he should be punished. It means he's just not the same as everyone else, and there is nothing wrong with that.  "It occurred to me that anyway one more Sunday was over, that Maman was buried now, that I was going back to work, and that, really, nothing had changed." (Pg. 24) Here you can see that Monsieur Mersault just lives. He doesn't worry about what has happened, or what will happen in the future. He focuses solely on the present and no more. Even if it was something as significant as death, his view on life can be clearly be seen with his simple and vague reaction to Maman's death. 

Mersault is honest. He doesn't feel and doesn't care. What he has to say, he says it. Mersault doesn't feel the need to hide is lack of feelings with lies. "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. She looked sad." (Pg. 35)  That's just the way he "rolls", and so that's why he is seen to the world as The Stranger, an outsider. Someone not belonging in this moral society that we call earth. So what's your reason to live? Think about it carefully, because maybe, just maybe, you will be considered a stranger too.