Research Article
Absurdity and The Significance of the Idea of Death in Albert Camus’ L’Étranger
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/eai.2-11-2019.2294765, author={Indiana Salsabila and Joesana Tjahjani}, title={Absurdity and The Significance of the Idea of Death in Albert Camus’ L’\^{E}tranger}, proceedings={Proceedings of the 1st Conference of Visual Art, Design, and Social Humanities by Faculty of Art and Design, CONVASH 2019, 2 November 2019, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia}, publisher={EAI}, proceedings_a={CONVASH}, year={2020}, month={8}, keywords={absurdity; death; literature; narratology; philosophy}, doi={10.4108/eai.2-11-2019.2294765} }- Indiana Salsabila
Joesana Tjahjani
Year: 2020
Absurdity and The Significance of the Idea of Death in Albert Camus’ L’Étranger
CONVASH
EAI
DOI: 10.4108/eai.2-11-2019.2294765
Abstract
L’Étranger written by Albert Camus shows the concept of absurdity states that to face absurdity, one must confront it with consciousness and live through the absurd life until death. This article aims to reveal how death, which consistently occurs in L’Étranger, is related to Camus’ concept of absurdity. Through the analysis of focalization development apparent in the story, the recurring events of death as told through Meursault’s narration become the key to show the connection between Camus’ idea of absurdity and death. The storyline and narrative breakdowns show that the deaths in L’Étranger expose the main character to the steps towards becoming the Absurd Man. Despite being alienated, Meursault shows how being the stranger in a world of absurdity means accepting the inevitability of death by continuing to live the absurd life with consciousness.
