The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger

The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in
Albert Camus’ The Stranger

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters

By
YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI
Student Number: 034214059

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2008

The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in

Albert Camus’ The Stranger

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters

By
YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI
Student Number: 034214059

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2008

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama

: Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi

Nomor Mahasiswa

: 034214059

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul :

The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character

in Albert Camus’ The Stranger
Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan
kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan
dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data,
mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain
untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan
royakti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal : 31 maret 2008
Yang menyatakan

(Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi)

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Life is a Matter of Choice
Even
Not to Choose is also a Choice
(Jean Paul Sartre)

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This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to
My beloved parents
My amazing brothers and sisters
My wonderful friends

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The most beautiful song in the world is never enough to express how wonderful
You are. The most amazing friend I ever had, who never leave me in every single step I
take. Thank you Jesus for giving me so many miracles in my life. Thank you for your
guidance in every phase of life, especially during the process of making this
undergraduate thesis. I do believe that without Your guidance I will not be able to finish
this undergraduate thesis on time.
I would like to express my best gratitude to my amazing advisor, Mrs. Ni Luh
Putu Rosiandani, S.S, M.Hum. for her attention, precious suggestions and also for the

lunch. I realize that without her encouragement, this thesis will not be completed. Thank
you Mrs. Putu for your never-ending support, it really means a lot. Special thanks to my
co-advisor, Mr. Paulus Sarwoto, S.S., M.A. for the corrections and suggestions that make
this undergraduate thesis better. My gratefulness goes to Romo Harry for the discussion. I
do believe that without him I cannot understand this novel well.
My best gratitude is for my incredible family, the best father ever, Ag. Mudyo
Hartono, to give me his extraordinary patience and my unbelievable mother ever,
Elizabeth Sri Rahayu, for the struggle and for her never lasting prayer. To my lovely
brothers, Mas Hardi, Mas Agus, Mas Edi, Mas Heri, Mas Darsono, Mas Sigit, Mas
Agung, Mas Wawan, and Mas Viki, and sisters, Mbak Retno, Mbak Tutik, Mbak Wiwin,
Mbak Rini, Mbak Erni, Mbak Oni and Mbak Dewi thanks for endless support and love.
To my nieces and nephews for the laughter, it is really inspiring. I do love you all. Thank

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you also for Pak Nardi’s family for the prayers and for being another family for me. And
for lovely my aunt’s family, thank you for the love.
Thank you for my wonderful friends, Danik, Stella, Danang and Tika for sharing
a lot of things, for the laughter, love and tears. To my lovely friends, Sari, Meme, Alice,
Dwi, Poppy, Nilla, Sari, Novi, Wayan, Anita, Nitnot, Susi, Bayang, Dodi, Wedhus,

Mbendol, Tio, Budi, Makwik, Yabes and all ’03 English Letters Students. For Tartuffe
family (Frida, Tyas, Ocha, Lusi, Poppy, Yabes, Jony, Danang, Deon, Danik, Mas Dika,
Mas Jody, Galang, Sunu, Mas Dito and Mas Teguh), thanks for helping me learning how
to work as a team. Thanks to Ginting, Wahmuji, Mando and Kethek for the support and
suggestion. Thanks to Dewi and Lolin who lent their computer. Thanks to ERROR crew,
especially Reta, Desy and Darti for the fantastic moments we have spent. For Magis ’08
community, thanks for the sharing, support and friendship. Special thanks goes to FCJ
sisters for their guidance, love and prayer. For my wonderful CAS CIS, thanks for the
beautiful voices. All of you are truly angels.
Much thanks to my new sisters, Cindy, Mei and De’ Ari. Thanks for being true
friends for me. I learn a lot how to be a friend and to be a loveable person. The three of
you already change my view about friendship and thanks for always beside me in my
happiness and sadness. I love you. Thanks to my boarding house friends, Mbak Nina,
Lolin and Meta, for the laughter and silly things you have shared.
Thank you for Nino who gives me the insight to see the world differently, thanks
for everything.
Last but not least, thanks for a miracle happens in my life.

Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ........................................................................................................ i
APPROVAL PAGE .............................................................................................. ii
ACCEPTANCE PAGE ......................................................................................... iii
LEMBAR PENGESAHAN ...................................................................................iv
MOTTO PAGE ..................................................................................................... v
DEDICATION PAGE .......................................................................................... vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................. vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................... ix
ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... xi
ABSTRAK ............................................................................................................. xii
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1
A. Background of the Study ........................................................................ 1
B. Problem Formulation ............................................................................ 4
C. Objectives of the Study ......................................................................... 4
D. Definition of Terms ............................................................................... 5
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ...................................................... 6
A. Review of Related Studies .................................................................... 6

B. Review of Related Theories ................................................................... 10
1. Theories of Character ................................................................... 10
2. Theories of Characterization ........................................................ 12
3. Theory of Existentialism .............................................................. 14
3.1. Existentialism View and Existentialist Literature ............ 14
3.2. Nietzsche’s Theory on Existentialism .............................. 17
3.3. Sartre’s Theory on Existentialism ..................................... 18
3.4. Camus’ Theory on Existentialism .....................................19
4. Literature and Existentialism ........................................................ 21
C. Theoretical Framework .......................................................................... 22
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY .................................................................... 24
A. Object of the Study ................................................................................ 24
B. Approach of the Study .......................................................................... 25
C. Method of the Study .............................................................................. 26
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ................................................................................. 28
A. The Characterization of the Main Character .......................................... 28
B. The Ideas of Existentialism Revealed through in the Main Character ... 39
1. Mersault’s view towards God ....................................................... 40

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2. Mersault’s view towards love ....................................................... 44
3. Mersault’s view towards death ..................................................... 48
4. Mersault’s view towards freedom ................................................ 52
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ........................................................................... 57
BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................... 60

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ABSTRACT

YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI. The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed
through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. Yogyakarta:
Departement of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2008.
The Stranger is one of Albert Camus’s novels. The novel tells about an absurd
live lived by the main character. Meursault as the main character in the story
differently sees life as the other characters do. He has his own value and belief.
Through his attitudes, speeches and other’s point of view about him, it is obvious that
Meursault’s characteristics confirm some principles of existentialism. In this sense,
Camus delivers his ideas on existentialism through the main character. The main

character is used as Camus’ means to deliver his thought.
There are two problem formulations formulated in this undergraduate thesis;
(1) How is the main character, Meursault, characterized in the story?, (2) What are
the ideas of existentialism revealed through the main character in the novel?. The
objectives of this undergraduate thesis are; first, to find out how the main character in
the novel is characterized, second, to find out the ideas of existentialism as revealed
through the main character in the novel.
Since this study focused on literary work, the writer used library research. The
writer took all the references from the library to support the analysis. To strengthen
the analysis a moral-philosophical approach is employed.
Through the analysis, it is found that the main character’s characterization has a
significant role in revealing the ideas of existentialism. The way the main character,
Meursault, sees the life and the events in his surrounding becomes the evidence that
Camus employs the main character as his means to deliver his ideas on existentialism.
By paying a great attention on Meursault’s characteristics, the writer finds some
principles of existentialism portrayed in Meursault’s characteristics. In this sense,
existentialism is described as an existence that requires a total freedom. A total
freedom can be gained when people live entirely apart from God. Though a man
should have an absolute freedom, a total responsibility is required. Love should be
avoided since it is a forgetfulness of the self. Furthermore, everything people do in

their life will be ended by death. Death is natural and normal thing to happen as a
cycle of life. However, suicide is not the best solution to end a life, but to struggle is
the thing that people should do to face the absurd world. This belief leads people to
behave absurdly. In other word, absurdity becomes the essential characteristic of
existentialism.

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ABSTRAK

YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI. The ideas of Existentialism as Revealed
through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger.
Yogyakarta:
Fakultas Sastra, Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2008.
The Stranger adalah salah satu novel karangan Albert Camus. Novel ini
bercerita tentang kehidupan absurd tokoh utamanya. Meursault sebagai tokoh utama
memandang hidup secara berbeda dari tokoh-tokoh lainnya. Dia mempunyai nilainilai dan kepercayaan sendiri. Melalui tingkah laku, perkataan dan penilaian tokoh
lain terhadapnya, jelas terlihat bahwa penokohan Meursault mengusung prinsipprinsip existensialisme. Dalam hal ini, Camus menyampaikan gagasan-gagasan
existensialismenya melalui tokoh utamanya. Tokoh utama digunakan sebagai alat
Camus untuk menyampaikan pemikirannya.
Ada dua pokok permasalahan yang dirumuskan dalam studi ini; (1) Bagaimana
tokoh utama, Meursault, digambarkan dalam cerita ini? (2) Gagasan-gagasan
existensialisme apa saja yang diungkapkan melalui tokoh utama dalam novel ini?
Tujuan dari studi ini adalah; pertama, untuk menemukan bagaimana tokoh utama
digambarkan, kedua, untuk menemukan gagasan-gagasan existensialisme yang
diungkapkan melalui tokoh utama dalam novel ini.
Karena studi ini menitikberatkan pada karya sastra, penulis menggunakan studi
pustaka. Penulis menggunakan sumber pustaka untuk analisis. Untuk memperkuat
analisis, pedekatan filsafat moral digunakan.
Melalui bagian analisis, ditemukan bahwa penokohan tokoh utama mempunyai
peran penting dalam mengungkapkan gagasan-gagasan existensialisme. Cara pandang
tokoh utama terhadap hidup dan kejadian-kejadian di sekitarnya menjadi bukti bahwa
Camus menggunakan tokoh utama untuk menyampaikan gagasan-gagasan
existensialismenya.
Dengan memberikan perhatian penuh pada penokohan Meursault, penulis
menemukan prinsip-prinsip existensialisme yang tergambar dalam penokohan
Meursault. Dalam hal ini, existensialisme dideskripsikan sebagai sebuah eksistensi
yang bersyarat kebesasan penuh. Kebebesan penuh dapat dicapai saat seseorang
hidup terlepas dari Tuhan. Walaupun seseorang harus memiliki kebebasan penuh,
tanggungjawab yang penuhpun diwajibkan. Cinta harus dicegah karena cinta adalah
peninggalan diri sendiri. Selain itu, apapun yang dilakukan manusia akan dihentikan
oleh kematian. Kematian adalah kejadian alami yang terjadi sebagai bagian dari
rantai kehidupan. Walaupun demikian, bunuh diri bukan cara terbaik untuk
mengakhiri hidup, tetapi berjuang adalah hal yang harus dilakukan untuk menghadapi
hidup yang absurd. Kepercayaan ini membawa seseorang untuk bertindak absurd. Ini
berarti bahwa, absurditas adalah ciri penting dari existensialisme.

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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

A. Background of The Study
Existentialism as part of philosophy is interesting to be discussed. One thing
that makes it interesting is that existentialism focuses on human being. In
existentialism, human being becomes the central of everything. The other thing is
that it concerns about the way people think. Each person in the world is different
from one and another, especially in the way he or she thinks. As the result of
people’s different way of thinking, there are various concepts of existentialism.
One of the most famous existentialism concepts is ‘existence’ precedes
‘essence’. This concept means that existence is prior than essence (Horton and
Edward, 1967:457). According to Barrett, man does not have a fixed essence that
is given to him ready-made, but he makes his own nature out of his freedom and
his historical condition where he lives (1962:102).
It is obvious that existentialism focuses on human beings. Human beings have
a freedom to create themselves, to be what they want to be. Their personality is
not given naturally but it is created by the freedom they have, the choices they
make and the condition where they live.
There are some philosophers who interpret the existence of human beings such
as Jean Paul Sartre, Heidegger, Jaspers, Soren Kiekegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche,
and also Albert Camus. Each philosopher has his or her own concept of
existentialism. Some of them belong to theistic existentialist and the others are

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atheistic existentialists. Though they have different concepts and ways of
thinking, they argue the same issue that is the existence of human beings.
In this undergraduate thesis, the writer will focus on the concept of
existentialism proposed by Camus. Camus’ works are mostly associated with
existentialism. Different from Soren Kiekegaard’s existentialism, which teaches
people to depend their life on God and choose to live as a Christian, Camus’
existentialism does not believe in God’s existence. Like Sartre and Nietzsche,
Camus is considered as an atheistic existentialist (Kaufman, 1956:289). Fairly
similar with Sartre, Camus focuses on individualism. They argue that men should
find integrity within themselves. Meaning that each man has to be independent
and does not depend his or her life on others (Kaufman, 1956: 47).
Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean Paul Sartre take an important role in Camus’
philosophical thought. Seeing that Nietzsche has a big influence in existentialism,
many existentialists, including Albert Camus, are influenced by his way of
thinking. It is not surprising anymore that Nietzsche’s concept of existentialism
often appears in Camus’ work.

While Sartre also influences Camus’

philosophical thought, Sartre is Camus’ companion. They became close to each
other when Camus worked in Combat. Sartre’s influence can also be seen in
Camus’ work.
Based on an online source entitled Albert Camus, it is stated that Camus often
brings philosophical issues in his work. His work, The Rebel, covers a
philosophical analysis of rebellion and revolution as the rejection towards
communism. The Myth of Sisyphus is a philosophical essay about absurdity. This

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philosophical essay carries the idea of absurdity. His novel entitled The Stranger,
tells about a man who lives an absurd life. The novel brings the feeling of
absurdity as the main atmosphere of the story. The atmosphere of absurdity can be
felt through the main character’s attitude that is unusual. There are still many
other works Camus wrote such as Caligula, The Misunderstanding, and The
Plague.
The Stranger is the main source to be discussed in this undergraduate thesis.
As stated above, The Stranger is a story about man who lives an absurd life. In
this novel, Camus brought the ideas of existentialism. The absurd way of living
chosen by Meursault becomes the manifestation of his existentialism. The novel is
divided into two parts. The first part deals with Meursault and his environment,
how he responds to the custom in the society where he lives and how he responds
to other people’s behavior. Here, his attitude towards others and his environment
represents his existentialism. While the second part, when Meursault comes to the
moment when he killed an Arab without certain motive, strengthens his ideas of
existentialism.
The Stranger is chosen as the source of this undergraduate thesis because this
novel is a very interesting novel to read. This novel carries different view on the
way people live. The different way of living is seen in the main character’s way of
living. How he faces every condition in his life. His reaction towards every event
which happens in his life is different from other people. It makes people consider
him as a stranger and freak since he acts differently from others. His indifference
is the result of his concept of life. The concept he brought is the concept of

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existentialism. Another reason why this novel is chosen is because it achieved a
great success when it appeared in 1942 and became Camus’ best known and most
popular work among youngsters (O’Brien, 1970:24).
The topic discussed in this undergraduate thesis is The Ideas of Existentialism
as Revealed Through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. Here,
the main character in the novel, Meursault, will be the focus of the study. The
writer wants to reveal the ideas of existentialism through the main character in the
novel. The main character in the novel undergoes the process of finding his
existence as a human being. He also looks for unlimited freedom by being an
extraordinary man.
B. Problems Formulation
The problems of this thesis that will be discussed can be formulated as
follows:
1. How is the main character, Meursault, characterized in the story?
2. What are the ideas of existentialism revealed through the main character in
the novel?
C. Objectives of the Study
The objective of this study is to find out the answer of the formulated
problems in the former part. The purposes of this thesis are; first, to find out how
the character of Meursault as the main character of the novel is characterized.
Second, to find out the ideas of existentialism as revealed through the main
character.

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D. Definition of Terms
To avoid misunderstanding about the term used in this thesis, the writer wants
to clarify the term of existentialism that the writer used in this undergraduate
thesis by giving the definition.
Since it concerns about the way people thinks, the concept of mind,
existentialism is not easily defined. There are a lot of definitions of existentialism.
In order to have a vivid definition, the writer sums up the definitions of
existentialism that already formulated by some writers.

As the result,

existentialism is defined as a mindset that emphasizes on individual uniqueness.
In existentialism, existence is considered more prior than essence. Human beings
are free to choose their own way to live and have a total freedom, but at the same
time they also have to be responsible for the act and the decision they make.
Existentialism also sees human’s inability to explain the world condition and
absurdity becomes the main characteristic of human condition.
This definition is chosen because it covers the appropriate characteristics of
existentialism that will be discussed in this thesis.

CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies
In this part, the writer deals with the previous studies that have been done
related to the topic of this thesis. The studies are taken from some theses from
the students of English Letters Study Programme Department of English Letters
Faculty of Letters Sanata Dharma University and some are taken from the
experts.
One of the studies taken is Dicky Christanto’s thesis entitled “Humanity,
Absurdity and Atheism Found in Albert Camus’ The Plague in Relation with
Karl Marx Criticism toward Religion”. In this thesis the writer compares
Camus’ ideas toward religion and Marx’s criticism toward religion, the
similarities and differences between Camus’ and Marx’s atheism, the
application of atheism shown by the main character in the novel, The Plague
and Marx himself . This thesis also covers the message that can be taken from
the discussion of Atheism (Christianto,1998:6).
Another study is the undergraduate thesis entitled “Human Revolt Related to
the Crisis of Freedom in The Main Character of Albert Camus’ The Stranger “.
This thesis was written by Bambang Hendriyanto. In this thesis the writer
focuses on the study of plot, the setting of the novel and how the main character
represents his rebellion as the effect of freedom crisis (Hendriyanto,1998:4).

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A different angle in seeing the novel is taken by F.X Lilik Mardjianto. In his
thesis entitled “The Significance of the Characterization of the Minor Characters
to the Elaboration of The Theme In Albert Camus’ The Stranger”, the writer
explores the minor characters’ characteristics to find its significance that can be
confronted to the main character’s personalities. Here the main character is the
representation of absurdity while the minor characters are the antithesis of the
absurdity. By confronting the characterization between the main character and
the minor characters, the writer can find the significance of the minor character
in order to find out the suitable theme for the novel that is “absurdity is the
ultimate truth” (Mardjianto, 2005:6).
Jean Paul Sartre also wrote a philosophical essay on Camus’ work. In his
essay, Sartre mainly discussed two of Camus’ works which are The Outsider,
the previous title of The Stranger, and The Myth of Sisyphus. He said that, these
two works are associated with one another. Both of them bring about absurdity
in different way. In The Stranger, the story tells about a man living in an absurd
way. The ideas of absurdity are not provided in this story. The writer only
describes the feeling of the main character, which is the feeling of being absurd.
Meanwhile, The Myth of Sisyphus provides the ideas of absurdity. The Myth of
Sisyphus becomes an explanation of absurdity concept.
M.Camus distinguishes, as we have mentioned, between the notion and
the feeling of the absurd. He says, in this connection, “Deep feelings,
like great works, are always more meaningful than they are aware of
being…”The feeling of the absurd is different with the idea of the
absurd…” The Myth of Sisyphus might be said to aim at giving us the
idea, and The Outsider at giving us the feeling (Sartre: 1962: 35).

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The Stranger provides us the feeling of absurdity. It means that when people
read this work they will be driven into the feeling of absurd. It happens when
people, in this case the main character, has the concept of existentialism in his
mind, he will live in an absurd way and this absurd way of living will be felt by
the reader.
An almost similar discussion is also proposed by Conor Cruise O’Brien in
his book entitled Camus. In his book, he discusses three of Camus’ works,
which are: Caligula, The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus. These works are
considered to have interrelationship to each other and regarded as forming the
phase of the stranger, meaning that these three works are Camus’ means in
delivering his idea about absurd life (O’Brien 1970:9).
O’Brien begins his writing by stating Camus’ biography; that Camus was
raised in a poor family and lived in European working class. He received a good
opportunity to continue his study in the Lychee in Algiers. Camus joined the
anti-fascist Amsterdam Pleyel movement and also joined the communist party.
In 1937, he broke up with the party. He began to write in 1935 and published an
essay entitled Betwixt and Between. Then in 1938 he wrote his second play,
Caligula and began writing on the absurd, The Myth of Sisyphus and Notes for
The Stranger. In 1941, he completed these three works (O’Brien 1970:7-9).
According to O’Brien, the setting of place, Algiers; where is majored by the
Arabic speaking people, as well as Camus’ biography, growing up among the
poorest of European working class, has an important role in building his ideas
and thought (O’Brien 1970:10).

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Concerning to The Stranger, O’Brien puts a great attention on the main
character. He sums up the story by stating the evidences that the main character
in the story is an indifferent man. The way he lives is different from others. His
indifference can be seen in the way he responds to his society and the way he
shows his existentialism through his action. It is clearly seen that Meursault is
really aware of his monotonous life and tries to rebel against it by being an
indifferent man (O’Brien 1970:14-19).
In this book, O’Brien also compares the main characters in Camus’ works,
Caligula in Caligula, Meursault in The Stranger and Sisyphus in The Myth of
Sisyphus. Meursault, as well as Caligula and Sisyphus are considered as the
absurd hero. Yet, in fact, the strategy that was used to build these three
characters is slightly different. Caligula is described as a ruthless person, similar
with a monster, while in building Meursault’s character, Camus led the reader to
give sympathy to Meursault. Although in the story Meursault killed a person,
the reader will not really aware of his cruelty because the act of killing is not
clearly seen. Another strategy is applied in Sisyphus. He is described as a fool,
someone who does a foolish thing, who accepts his absurd task to roll a rock to
the top of mountain. His integrity as a human being is shown in his willingness
to do the absurd task (O’Brien 1970:29).
In the end of his analytical writing about The Stranger, O’Brien conveys a
message that the true revolt against the absurd world is continuing to live and
not to commit suicide (O’Brien 1970:30).

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The works above are the studies that have been conducted related to Camus’
works, especially his novel, The Stranger. These studies are mainly concerned
with Camus’ ideas and the main character’s significance. Nevertheless, the
minor characters’ significance also becomes the object of study. Almost all of
these studies are studies on existentialism.
In this thesis, the writer tries to give a more specific study on existentialism.
The writer aims to reveal the ideas of existentialism in the novel. The main
character’s characteristic is explored since he becomes Camus’ means to deliver
his ideas of existentialism. The focus of this study is to reveal the ideas of
existentialism that can be taken from the novel through the main character.

B. Review of Related Theories
In this part the writer will state the theories that will be used in the analysis.
The theories are; the theory of character, the theory of characterization and the
theory of existentialism.
1. Theories of Character
M. H. Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms, points out that
“Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work,
who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral and
disposition qualities that are expressed in what they say- the dialogueand by what they do-the actions” (1981: 20).
It means that characters in a story show moral and natural qualities of mind
through their dialogue and the action in the story.
Based on the importance, characters are categorized into major character
and minor character. A major character is usually the center of the story. He or

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she is the most important character in the story. Usually, the acts of the story are
focused on this character from the beginning until the ending parts. The core of
the story is highlighted through this characters experience.
While minor character is a character that appears in a certain setting, just
necessarily to become the background for the major characters. Their roles are
less important than the major character because they are not fully developed
characters and their roles in a story are just to support the development of the
major character (Abrams, 1981:20).
Characters are also divided into two types based on the internal complexity;
they are flat character and round character. A flat character is presented without
many individualizing details, and therefore can be adequately described in a
single phrase or sentence. It also can be “a single idea or quality.” A round
character is complex in temperament and motivation and is presented with
subtle particularity. He is as difficult to describe with any adequacy as a person
in real life is and like most people, he is capable of surprising us (Abrams, 1981:
20). Characterized by one or two traits, flat characters can be written in a
sentence to describe whether they are good or bad character. It makes flat
character not fully developed. Round characters are complex and multi sided in
their temperament so that the characters have more proportion for their
development.
Based on their development or changes, according to C. Hugh Holman and
William Harmon in their book, A Handbook to Literature (1986), characters are
also categorized into two types, namely static and dynamic. Firstly, a static

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character is one who changes little. Things happen to such a character without
things happening within. The pattern of action reveals the character rather than
showing the character changing in response to the actions. Sometimes a static
character gives the appearance of changing simply because our picture of the
character is revealed bit by bit. Secondly, a dynamic character is one who is
modified by actions and experiences, and one objective of the work in which the
character appearance is to reveal the consequences of these actions (Holman &
Harmon, 1986: 83). To judge whether they are static or dynamic is not only
based on the changing in a condition or little changing in opinion, but there is a
process to make the changing.

2. Theories of Characterization
M.J. Murphy (1972: 161-173) suggests nine ways in which the author
attempts to make his characters understandable and lifelike for his reader. Those
nine ways to characterize a character are discussed as follows.
Firstly is by analyzing the character’s personal description. In this way the
writer characterizes the character by seeing a character from his physical
appearance such as his build, his face, his skin, his eyes, his hair or his clothes.
Secondly, by analyzing from another character’s point of view or character
as seen by another. A character can be analyzed through another character’s
eyes and opinions to describe the character that the writer wants to expose.
Thirdly, a character can be characterized by character’s speech. The readers
can have an opinion about the character by paying attention to the character’s

13

speech. The reader can also see the conversation in which the character is
involved; the way he or she gives his or her opinion may also show the
personality of the character.
Fourthly, by considering the character’s past life, the readers are made
known of some important clues to get to know about the character. It can be
described by the author’s direct comment, through the character’s thoughts,
through the character’s conversation, or through the medium of another person.
Fifthly, a character could be analyzed from conversation of others; the
readers can get to know a character through the conversations of other people
and the things they say about him.
Sixthly, by perceiving the character’s reactions to various situations and
events, an author shows his character’s tendency, and this tendency gives the
readers a clue about the character’s personality.
Seventhly, a character can be characterized by the author’s direct comment
and description on the character. In this way there is no medium for the author
to use to characterize the character. The author directly describes the character
and also gives comment on the character.
Eighthly, the thought of the character can be used to characterize the
character. The author shows the character’s personality by allowing the readers
to understand the deepest thought of the character in a novel.
Lastly, the author characterizes the character by describing the character’s
mannerisms, habits, or idiosyncrasies. The author shows the character’s
personalities by stating the character’s gestures and habits.

14

Another way of characterization is offered by Roberts, Edgar v and Jacobs
in Fiction An Introdution to Reading and Writing, that is, a story is usually
concerned with a major issue that a character must face. Characterization
through dialogue, action, comments may involve interaction between a character
with another character, with a difficult situation or with an idea (Robert,
1989:56).

3. Theory of Existentialism
Talking about theories on existentialism, we will find a list of philosopher
names such as Soren Kierkegaard, Jean Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche,
Heidegger, Dostoevsky and also Albert Camus. Each of the philosophers brings
a different theory or concept of existentialism but indeed their thought rooted
from the same philosophical question of life. Albert Camus, one of those
philosophers, begins his philosophical thought by questioning the meaning of
life as well as what the other philosopher does. Yet later on, their concept
develops with their own uniqueness.
Here, in this part, the writer will review some views of existentialism and
theory of existentialism. The theory is not only taken from Albert Camus, the
writer of the novel, but also from Jean Paul Sartre and Friedrich Nietzsche.
These two philosophers are chosen since they have big influences in Camus’
philosophical thought.

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3.1. Existentialism View and Existentialist Literature
According to Holman and Harmon in his book, A Handbook to Literature,
existentialism is:
“A Group of attitudes (current in philosophical, religious, and artistic
thought during and after the second World War) that emphasizes
existence rather than essence and sees the inadequacy of human reason
to explain the enigma of the universe as the basic of philosophical
question” (1986: 199).
According to this book, existentialism is defined as some attitudes
that based on philosophy, religious and artistic thought. It exists during and after
the Second World War. The thought emphasizes on human’s existence.
Human’s existence is considered more prior than human’s essence. It observes
the human’s inability to explain the mystery of the universe. Furthermore, the
important point is human being’s awareness of their situation that they have a
total freedom but at the same time they also are completely responsible for their
act and decision (Holman and Harmon, 1986: 199).
Encyclopedia of world Literature also explains about existential literature. In
this book, it is stated that existential literature emphasizes on “the fact that the
men are not determined priori, but ‘exist’. They are in the state of ‘becoming’
within the framework of a certain given situation, and are in the long run, what
they make themselves. In this way they escape from a mechanical determination
and are ‘free’ “(Steinberg and Buchaman (eds), 1973:224).
According to this definition, men are not originally determined but they are
created themselves in their own way. They are free to choose their own way to
live and free from society determination.

16

Stanton in Introduction to Literature, states that the work of existential
fiction tends to emphasize on individual isolation, how the individual can be
short of identity, finds it difficult to establish a good relationship with others,
and the opacity and absurdity of his work (1965:66). Meaning to say that
someone who has the concept of existentialism tends to have difficulty in
building a good relationship with others, lack of identity and live in isolation.
Their way of living is absurd.
A different definition of existentialism is offered by John. K. Roth in his
book International Encyclopedia of Ethics, he defined existentialism as;
“An approach to ethics that emphasizes individual subjectivity-freedom
and responsilbility, and the irrational as primary features of human
condition” (1995:294).
Another definition of existentialism is brought by Miffin in his book, The
American Heritage Dictionary of English Language. It is stated that
existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of
individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human’s
existence is inexplicable and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for
the sequences of one’s act.
This definition is quite similar with Holman and Harmon’s definition. Both
emphasize on the individual uniqueness and the freedom to choose one’s own
way and decision. Furthermore, one also has the responsibility of the choice he
and she has taken.
From the definitions of existentialism above, it can be concluded that
existentialism is a mindset that emphasizes on individual uniqueness. In

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existentialism, existence is considered more prior than essence. Human beings
are free to choose their own way to live and have a total freedom, but at the
same time they also have to be responsible of the act and the decision they
make. Existentialism also sees human’s inability to explain the world condition
and absurdity becomes the main characteristic of human condition.

3.2. Nietzsche’s Theory on Existentialism
Talking about existentialism cannot be separated from Nietzsche. Since his
influence among existentialists is no longer questionable. Sartre, Heidegger,
Jaspers and Camus are the existentialists who are influenced by Nietzsche’s
thought. Camus’ Myth of Sysiphus is considered as a distant echo of Nietzsche,
he also wrote about Nietzsche. Like Camus, Jaspers also wrote two books about
Nietzsche and discussed him in detail in his several books. Nietzsche also
becomes the first name mentioned in Sartre’s philosophic main work, L’etre et
le neant. Calling Nietzsche as an existentialist is not appropriate because it
seems giving him insufficient appreciation of his full significance (Kaufman
1956: 22).
As stated above, Nietzsche has an important role among other philosophers,
including Camus. It is not surprising anymore that Nietzsche’s influence can be
felt in Camus’ work. In Camus’ work, The Stranger, Nietzsche’s ideas of
existentialism appears.
One of his existentialism concepts is known as “God is Dead”. In this
concept, Nietzsche tries to explore his atheism in a very radical way. He

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proclaimed himself as an atheist by instinct. His atheism provided a model for
those existentialists, including Albert Camus, who wish to describe an existence,
lived entirely apart from God. On his atheism, he stated that either disbelief or
belief is optional attitude and this option is worthwhile to be researched (Collins,
1952:21).
An online source entitled Friedrich Nietzsche and his Philosophy of the
Superman states another concept of existentialism that Nietzsche offers that is
‘Man and Superman’. What is meant by ‘Man’ is an ordinary man, man who
obeys the rules surround him, who follow the value given by the society and
fulfill the society’s demands. While ‘Superman’ is a term used for a man who
has the ability to transgress the rules surround him. ‘Superman’ is a man who
bravely performs his instinct. He or she is a person who has the ability to create
his or her own value. A model of human being as Nietzsche has suggested “Do
not follow me but follow yourself” (Kaufman, 1956:50). What he said means
that someone has to be her or himself and has her or his own value. Being as a
‘Superman’ is the outcome of ‘Will to Power’. The power to overcome man, this
power is not only power over another but also power over oneself.

3.3. Sartre’s Theory on Existentialism
In Camus’ philosophical thought, Jean Paul Sartre has his own role. Camus
and Sartre recognized each other when they were involved in a Communist
Party. Yet, their relationship was broken after some years.

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As well as Nietzsche, Sartre also offered atheism. According to him, if God
does not exist, everything would be permitted and man cannot find anything to
depend on, except to depend on himself (Kaufman, 1956:295).
According to Sartre “man is nothing else, but what he purposes, he exists
only in so far as he realizes himself, he is therefore nothing else but the sum of
his action,...(Kaufman, 1956:300). It means that man will find his existence
when he is fully aware of himself and what he did.
In relation to human existence, Sartre also stated that man’s existence is not
determined originally, but it is built from him by the choice and commitment he
made.
“man makes himself, he is not found ready-made; he makes himself
by the choice of his morality…we define man only in relation to his
to his commitment; it is therefore absurd to reproach us for
irresponsibility in our choice (Kaufman, 1956:306 ).”
Therefore, according to Sartre, the morality or goodness is subjective based
on the person’s choice and point of view. The way a man keeps his
commitment is also important to show his or her existence. Meaning to say
that person’s existence can be seen through his or her way to hold his or her
commitment and the way he or she is responsible for the choice he or she
already made.
Thus the central and the heart of existentialism, according to Sartre, is:
“the absolute character of the free commitment, by which every man
realizes himself in realizing a type of humanity –a commitment always
understandable, to no matter whom in no matter epoch- and its
bearing upon relativity of a cultural pattern which may result from
such absolute commitment (Kaufman, 1956:304).”

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3.4. Camus’ Theory on Existentialism
Talking about Camus’ theories on existentialism means talking about his
concept of absurdity. Camus’ concept of absurdity is rooted from the concept of
existentialism. Camus’ existentialism focuses on the stage that people feel when
they start to question their existence. This stage is called as absurdity. He, as well
as other philosophers, begins his thought with a philosophical problem
questioning the meaning of life. Whether life is worth living or not, since many
people who feel that life is not worth living die by committing suicide and many
others getting killed for the ideas or illusions that give them the reason for living.
It seems that a reason for living is also an excellent reason for dying (Camus,
1955:4). This basic question is the starting point of Camus’ absurdity. According
to Camus, absurd men do not recognize suicide; they are fully aware of absurdity,
accept absurdity and live with it. Absurd men are fully aware that the place they
live offers absurd things. They live within the cycle of absurdity that there is no
meaning at all in this world. The best solution to stay alive is to struggle by living
the absurd as long as possible.
Question about life and the world’s condition often appear in human’s mind.
Since life is a mystery and things happen in the world is inexplicable. Moreover,
everything people do in their life will be stopped by death. The world is absurd in
which people find it difficult to understand it. While men’s necessity about the
clarity of life and the condition of the world is not fulfilled because there is no
clear explanation to fulfill the desire. The world remains silent and gives no
explanation for irrational conditions which happen in the world. This fact leads to

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the confrontation between human’s curiosity of clear explanation of life and
inexplicable condition of the world. This confrontation is the meaning of absurd.
Thus, the concept of absurd depends on men and the world.
But what is absurd is the confrontation of this irrationals and the
wild longing for clarity whose call the echoes in the human heart.
The absurd depends as much on man as on the world (Camus,
1955:16).
The concept of love as well as the concept of God is another aspect in the
world that is absurd. According to Camus, things can be understood when the
things can be touched, can be smelled and resist us (Camus,1955:38). However
these two things cannot fulfill the requirements to be understood. We cannot
either touch or smell love and God. Love that entirely binds us to certain creature
is not permitted because this kind of love is the same as suicide. Suicide and this
kind of love are forgetfulness of self (Camus, 1955:54). Meaning to say that when
someone is crazily in love they will not be aware of their existence, they will
depend on others. Thus they cannot liberate himself in any relationship for the
sake of his existence.
As well as Nietzsche and Sartre, Camus also does not believe in God’s
existence. God cannot be felt by human’s senses; God is only human’s
imagination. This fact brings the idea that man is a free agent, there is nothing that
can limit his acts. Concerning to God’s existence Camus stated;
For in the presence of God, there is less a problem of freedom than a
problem of evil. You know the alternative: either we are not free and
God the all-powerful is responsible for evil. Or we are free and
responsible but God is not all-powerful (Camus, 1955:42).

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From the quotation above, Camus offers two alternatives whether a man is the
one who owns the power or God is the owner of power. In the case that a man
who owns the power, man is the master of his life, he is the God over himself.

4. Literature and Existentialism
Understanding the relationship between philosophy and literature will help us
to find the relationship between existentialism and literature. Knight in Literature
Considered as Philosophy stated,
Philosophy and literature have acted upon another in the past, but they
never lost their identity in one another. Writers who were not
philosophers wrote about philosophy, what they wrote was not in itself
philosophy in the strict sense of the word (Knight, 1962: 175).
It is clearly seen in the quotation above the relationship between philosophy
and literature. Though the author is not a philosopher, he or she brings such
philosophical ideas in his or her literary work. Wellek and Warren in Theory of
Literature stated, “Literature might be a reflection of philosophical ideas”
(1956:111). It means that literature becomes the tools in delivering philosophical
ideas of the author.
While Rudolf Unger, in the same book, also stated that literature expresses a
general attitude toward life that the author of literary work usually answers the
questions which are also themes of philosophy (Wellek & Warren, 1956:115).
Meaning to say that literary works are used as media to deliver certain messages
about life and offer solutions concerning on philosophical questions.
Since existentialism becomes a distinct philosophical and literary movement
belongs to the 19th-20th centuries, it had a big influence on literary works creat