Meursault fundamental revelation is essentially that there is no point, and that he lives in a absurd world. He has come to realize that the world is essentially senseless; he comes to this realization at “dawn” in his “cell”. Upon realizing this cruel truth about the world he may have realized that the only certain release from all this uncertainty is essentially death. Meursault had previously lacked the ability for introspection and hence could not reveal these truths. This allows him to move from a state of indifference to a state of acceptance. In retrospect from passivity to action. His actions might not be radical in themselves, but he is conscious of them now, cognizant, "ready to live it [his life] all again."
Meursault seems to be slightly more awakened as he yells as the Chaplain with “cries of anger” Prior to this revelation Meursault would have remained indifferent and would not have cared. His past indecisiveness disappears as well, as he approaches death, the only certainty, he becomes more and more aware of his own mortality, and hence grows more confident. He goes as far as to describe himself as,” "sure about , about everything, surer than could ever be, sure of life and sure of the death waiting ."
Meursualt reveals the big secret that the world is filled with absurdity and uncertainty, what is important is what is in the now and personal decisions and actions that give Meursault a sort of assertiveness. He no longer sees people as strangers; he takes himself out of this social isolation and goes as far as to even speak in front of a large crowd right before his execution. Meursault says that "we’re all elected by the same fate," meaning that everyone dies and in that sense no one is above anyone else. Everyone is equal hence furthering these absurdities of life.
by
barbarasyska (student)
