Human Futility in Albert Camus the Stranger

This study describes meaninglessness and absurdity. This novel Camus‘ presents meaninglessness and absurdity through characters, settings, and imagery in the novel. This is a qualitative narrative study purposed by Creswell who states that narrative is a type of qualitative in which researchers illustrate describe the lives of characters, collect and tell stories about individual lives, and write narratives about typical experiences. Using this method, data is collected through a collection of stories, the novel The Stranger as the primary source. Secondary sources were obtained from various books and other relevant sources from the internet, such as online dictionaries, Cambridge. This study employs literary sociology which states that literary works have a close relationship, where literary sociology provides a framework for understanding how literary works are influenced by their environment, reflect images of society, and influence society. The novel reveals how a person who lives without a clear purpose and meaning, i.e. meaninglessness and absurdity in life. The Stranger depicts the life of Meursault who lives without a clear purpose and meaning, reflecting meaninglessness and absurdity in life. Meursault is emotionally detached and indifferent to the events around him, as seen from his reaction of showing no sadness at his mother's death. He lives his life based on sensory experiences and immediate needs, with no clear direction. His murder of an Arab man was fuelled by discomfort from the heat of the sun, demonstrating the irrational and arbitrary nature of existence. Society's reaction to Meursault's behaviour reflects the human tendency to seek meaning in an otherwise meaningless world. During the trial, Meursault was judged not only for his murder, but also for not conforming to the norms of society. Meursault can be seen as an absurdist hero who recognizes that life has no inherent meaning, but still rejects false hopes or illusions. While awaiting execution, Meursault fully accepts the absurdity of his life and finds peace by realising that life has no meaning and everyone will eventually die. At the end of the novel, he rejects the spiritual comfort of the priest and chooses to accept the reality of an uncaring world.