Existentialism In The Matrix And Nausea

If McMahon was to examine The Stranger through an existential view, it would be similar to the way she examined The Matrix and Nausea. She would talk about the importance of the sun and the event at the beach and how it connects to existentialism. There are a few concepts that apply to existentialism:

· Mankind has free will
· Life is a series of choices, creating stress
· Few decisions are without any negative consequences
· Some things are irrational or absurd, without explanation
· If one makes a decision, he or she must follow through

All of these factors play a large role on Meursault; the main character who killed a man and is then given the death sentence. However, it was not for the crime more rather, it was based on the topic of his mother’s death. Meursault, who had recently come from his mother’s funeral and, ended up on a beach with the sun beating down his back, took a gun and shot an Arab four times. This sums up the entire plot, and every single detail that was previously mentioned applies to existentialism.
Free will is something we like to imagine that everyone has, but that is not the case. This is why the Amnesty International exists. However, in the terms of existentialism, everyone one has free will, no matter the situation. Even if one is a
slave or is under oppression, they still have the same choices as one who is not. The level of consequences between the two different positions will be the only difference. This plays into the part of Meursault taking the gun and shooting the Arab once, and then another three times. It was his choice to shoot the Arab and this got him in jail.
When Meursault was on trial, he blamed the sun for his actions.
He said it was the pressure of the sun and the blinding heat that caused him to pull the trigger. When he tried to explain that the sun pushed him and that he had no real motive, the courtroom laughed at him. This applies to the concept that life is a series of stressful choices and some things are unexplainable. He did not have a valid reason for his actions, nor does he seek for one. When the sun blinded Meursault, this can connect to Neo and the prisoners in Plato’s cave. This blinding light hurt his eyes and his mentality. This is when he realizes he is in control of everything he does, and to prove his point, he shoots the
Arab.
This could have been all prevented if he decided to walk away, but he did not. Meursault was thinking about turning around, but he had already confronted the Arab. This connects to another point; following through one’s actions. Existentialism talks about taking full responsibility for any action done. This is why Meursault does not denies nor plead guilty when he is in trial. He know what he has done, and is willing to face the consequences.
The last and most important point is: few decisions are without any negative consequences. The direct example is Meursault being tried for breaking the law. However, he was given the death sentence for something completely unrelated; his reactions during his mother’s funeral. Meursault did not show any emotion during his mother’s funeral. It was not that he hated her or anything; he was not really fazed by it. He did not think about his emotions too much during and after the funeral; however, during the trial, the prosecutor twisted Meursault’s lame reaction of his mother’s death and convinced the judge it was the mindset of a psychotic killer. Something as simple as an emotion during an event proved to be a consequence in the future.