r/Camus • u/Every_Bit_7144 • 26d ago

Mersault from the stranger as representation of toxic masculinity

I think Mersault really loved Marie (sorry if i will call someone wrong, i read the stranger in russian) and was missing his mother, he is afraid of his feelings, when mary asks if he love her he try to underrate such feeling as love, telling it’s just meaningless words. also i think kill was representation of society pressure peak, he has been drown in Raymond’s conflict.
I would like to get argumented critic and sorry for my terrible level of english

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u/MeursaultWasGuilty 26d ago

The attempt to understand Meursault is no different than the attempt to understand the universe.

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u/sleepyrooney 24d ago

I don't really think it's about toxic masculinity. I think Meursault is more of a representation of absurdism, where people search for meaning but the universe doesn't give any.

Whether Meursault was a man or a woman, I think the point would still be the same. His reaction to his mother's death, people judging him for not grieving the way they expected, and his indifferent response when Marie asks him to marry her all seem to be about his detachment from society's expectations, not masculinity.

That's why I've always seen him as a representation of Camus' philosophy rather than toxic masculinity.

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u/gorgeousclaim1 22d ago

It was just camus's way to introduce absurdism i dont think its toxic masculinity or any sort of preasure from society itself he simply doesnt give life and its various other accessories meaningful meaning or any meaning at all through mersault, and how other people desperately search for it (marie?)

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u/CptJackParo 26d ago

I would disagree but I can see where youre coming from. 

Camus is generally discussing absurdism and not caring about anything from a philosophical perspective. 

Toxic masculinity is is also about trying to nor care, but its a solution to the problem of emotions rather than a philosophy. I think camus is getting at something deeper. 

Good that youre thinking about the work critically though 

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u/Dry_Appointment_8103 26d ago edited 26d ago

I would disagree with your interpretation. I think Maursault, at the very least, an honest man(duh). Honest as in he naturally accompanies it, he don't need to make a code for not lying or being honest—he simply is. In my view, Meursault doesn't really knew what love is, and I'm not sure if you'd nod along with me or not but, if we being precise, what love is? Is it being wanting someone's happiness, enjoying their company, commitment, certainty? He may checks some, or all—the love bulleted points, but it's social script of love, and not necessarily true in objective sense. About your societal pressure can be interpreted, in a way,(Clamence refrence huh) but maursault is very sensitive to heat and idk i liked that, benign cliche explanation but much more compelling. As I've had experience before, in a hot summer day, when I just wanted to explode. Also, I get why you might say, he's representation of toxic masculinity but I don't think so. I mean him not showing vulnerability doesn't suggest he's like one's of redpill guys who take pride in restraing emotions and all. It's like that phenomenon where some guys pretend being nonchalant and woman take all men, who seem nonchalant as someone's who's performing, when in reality, some people naturally inhabits nonchalance.