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Why Is Mersault An Anti Hero

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Absurdism is the idea in which the human condition is without purpose, meaning, or value. An anti-hero is a protagonist who does not demonstrate the usual or customary qualities generally found in a hero. In Albert Camus’s book The Stranger, Monsieur Mersault is an absurdist and an anti-hero. Heroes tend to be caring, loving, helpful, brave, and hopeful. Because of Mersault believing there is no significance to life, he lives how he desires and does not conform to the roles society wants him to. Mersault is an anti-hero because he is not caring, loving, helpful, brave or hopeful. Mersault does not seem to be very loving or caring. In The Stranger, the opening lines introduce the death of Mersault’s mother. He was no longer able to support her and sent her to a nursing home. He does not visit her often since “it took up [his] Sunday” (Camus 5). He would rather have a relaxing Sunday than go see his mother. This shows he is not very caring for her. Mersault also does not seem to have feelings towards his mother either. While visiting his mother at the mortuary, he seems very content with the situation. It was almost as though it was a matter of business to him and not …show more content…

He shows how he is not very loving by not being upset at all at his mother’s funeral, and when he tells Marie he does not think he loves her. Mersault is helpful to Raymond in one situation but that is it. He writes the letter to Raymond’s mistress. This is helpful to Raymond but really just causes problems. In all of these situations, regular heroes would have reacted differently and done the opposite of Mersault. He is not necessarily brave because he confronts the Arab when he has the upper hand advantage. Mersault lacks hope worse than anything else. He has no hope for life and believes it has no meaning. This is what makes him an Anti-hero. He lacks most characteristics heroes portray, such as being caring, loving, helpful, brave, and

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