The Myth Of Sisyphus: Camusian Morality
Meursault is the perfect rendition and embodiment of this Camusian morality. His emotional incompetence and lack of ambition above all others, indicate that he does not cling onto any deeper source of meaning or purpose to his existence, nor does he intend to delve past his physical manifestation upon this world. The death of the closest person seems to leave him untouched; love does not warm his vacant heart, friendships are met with his indifference. He is a passive lover, an unreliable son, ambitionless employee and coldblooded murderer. Everything that goes beyond the perception of his senses is deemed irrelevant, revealing a highly materialistic attitude to life. As stated in The Myth of Sisyphus, “What I touch, what resists me – that
is what I understand” (Myth, 51), and adds: “I have no concern with ideas or with the eternal. The truths that come within my scope can be touched with the hand” (Myth, 83). He is solely rooted to reality by only the physical aspects of life, and it is by focusing on his senses that he progresses through everyday tasks. Meursault has neither regret for the past or ambitions for the future. His systems operate on a physical level unable to function beyond the narrow immediacy of the moment——one could even say he is the perfect role-model of the label “living in the moment”.
is what I understand” (Myth, 51), and adds: “I have no concern with ideas or with the eternal. The truths that come within my scope can be touched with the hand” (Myth, 83). He is solely rooted to reality by only the physical aspects of life, and it is by focusing on his senses that he progresses through everyday tasks. Meursault has neither regret for the past or ambitions for the future. His systems operate on a physical level unable to function beyond the narrow immediacy of the moment——one could even say he is the perfect role-model of the label “living in the moment”.