The emotionless anti-hero, Monsieur Meursault, embarks on a distinct philosophical journey through The Stranger. Confident in his ideas about the world, Meursault is an impassive protagonist who survives without expectations or even aspirations. Due to his constant indifference and lack of opinion about the world, it can be inferred that he suffers from psychological detachment from the world and society. It is through these characteristics that exist in Meursault that Camus expresses the absurd. From the first sentence of the book: “Mom died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know. (Camus 1) The indifferent tone of these short sentences reflects a rather apathetic attitude on the part of Meursault. Not only did he not feel any sorrow, but he also “felt like smoking.” (Camus 4) Perfectly communicating Meursault's disinterest, “[he] hesitates, [he] didn't know if [he] could do it with Maman there. [He] thought about it; It really didn't matter. (Camus 4) His mother's death sparks an absurdist philosophy in which he experiences a psychological awakening and begins to not really emphasize the emotions, but rather the physical aspect of life. There is a very notable example in The Stranger where Meursault chose to stay outside and walk back to the spring to cool off, even though he had fought earlier with the "two Arabs in blue overalls". (Camus 35) The heat was almost unbearable for Meursault and had exhausted him. When Meursault arrived at the spring, he met the Arab again, notably the brother of Raymond's mistress. The Arab approached Meursault and “took out his knife and held it in front of [him] in the sun.” (Camus 38) Meursault's unease grew and “[his] entire being tensed and [he] squeezed [...... middle of paper ...... ck sheep in society. While accepting the absurd was progressive for Meursault, his last days and his stormy conversation with the chaplain, and his desire for a hateful crowd of spectators show that he knew how to accept the absurdity, and revel in it. , finding satisfaction despite his surroundings and justifying his murder. His ego had reached an unprecedented level as his execution approached, and his complacency prepared him for the nothingness that awaited him. This process was a natural psychological response to his mortality, for his peace of mind. Meursault is therefore not the Stranger, a stranger to society, but a troubled man in search of meaning and satisfaction in a life and a world overwhelming with dissatisfaction and absurdity. Works cited Camus, Albert. The Stranger. Trans. Matthew Ward. New York: Vintage International, 1989. Print.