The emotionless antihero, Monsieur Meursault, goes on a distinct philosophical journey through The Stranger. Confident in his ideas about the world, Meursault is an emotionless protagonist who survives without expectations or even aspirations. Due to his constant indifference and lack of opinions on the world, it can be denoted that he suffers a psychological detachment from the world and society. It is through these characteristics present in Meursault that Camus expresses the absurd. Starting from the first sentence of the book: “Today my mother died. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know. (Camus 1) The indifferent tone of these short sentences conveys a rather apathetic attitude on Meursault's part. Not only does he not feel any pain, but he also "felt like smoking". (Camus 4) Communicating Meursault's disinterest perfectly, “[he] hesitated, [he] didn't know if [he] could do it with Maman right there. [He] thought about it; It didn't really matter. (Camus 4) His mother's death suggests an absurd philosophy in which he experiences a psychological awakening and begins to place no real emphasis on emotions, but rather on the physical aspect of life. There is a very notable example in The Stranger where Meursault chose to stay outside and return to the spring to cool off, despite the fight earlier with the “two Arabs in blue dungarees”. (Camus 35) The heat was almost unbearable for Meursault and had exhausted him. When Meursault reached the spring, he met the Arab again, specifically the brother of Raymond's lover. The Arab approached Meursault and "took out his knife and showed it to him in the sun." (Camus 38) Meursault's discomfort grew and "[his] entire being stiffened and [he] clutched [...... middle of paper ...... ck sheep into society. While coming to terms with the absurd was a Meursault's gradual process, his last days and heated conversation with the chaplain as well as his longing for a hateful crowd of spectators demonstrate that he was capable of accepting the absurdity and enjoying it, finding satisfaction despite those around him and justifying his murder. His ego had reached an all-time high as he approached his execution, and his satisfaction left him prepared for the nothingness that awaited him. This process was a natural psychological response to his mortality, for his peace of mind. Therefore, Meursault is not the Stranger, an outsider to society, but a troubled man seeking meaning and satisfaction in a life and world that were utterly unsatisfying and absurd. Works Cited Camus, Albert. The stranger. Trans. Matthew Ward. New York: Vintage International, 1989. Print.