Critical Analysis of The Stranger and A Happy Death
While Albert Camus primarily focuses his writing on absurdism and what it means to be a human on Earth, his novels The Stranger and A Happy Death, give insight into what Camus thought of women and the roles that they played in society. Camus consistently objectified women in his works as mere sexual objects, meant to please and have no intellectual thought. His feelings towards women are evident in The Stranger where he helps assist a man beating his mistress. This pure disrespect for this woman’s life furthers Camus’ point that women are just there to have sex with and without that, they are worthless human beings. Meursault and his friend, Raymond, say that the woman deserved the beating because she was cheating on Raymond, even though he has cheated on her many times before. This double standard that is forced on the mistress is still seen in today’s society—women can be viewed as sexual objects, but must not actually express an interest in sex, or they will be deemed whores.
Camus contributes more to this social norm of women being sex objects in A Happy Death. The main character, Patrice Meursault, chooses a beautiful girl to be his lover, purely because of her vapid personality and stunning looks. The narrator says “…he decided she was probably not very intelligent, and that pleased him. There is something divine in mindless beauty…” when describing the girl that Patrice had chosen as his wife. Throughout the entire story, Patrice and the narrator only comment on women’s looks and not how they contribute to society. This portrayal of women as sexual creatures rather than actual human beings with valid thoughts is a theme consistent with Camus’ work and society, as a whole. By not including any philosophical female characters in his work, Camus reemphasizes this point. Women should only be there to serve, to be sexy, and to be quiet. Meursault in The Stranger and Patrice in A Happy Death choose to be with lovers that are quiet and pretty, not one of them date women that have strong opinions or thoughts about the world. The women are just there to listen to the men’s social commentary and look beautiful while doing so. Camus consistently and continually undermines women and their intelligence in both novels through having only female characters with submissive personalities and beautiful bodies meant for sex.
Camus contributes more to this social norm of women being sex objects in A Happy Death. The main character, Patrice Meursault, chooses a beautiful girl to be his lover, purely because of her vapid personality and stunning looks. The narrator says “…he decided she was probably not very intelligent, and that pleased him. There is something divine in mindless beauty…” when describing the girl that Patrice had chosen as his wife. Throughout the entire story, Patrice and the narrator only comment on women’s looks and not how they contribute to society. This portrayal of women as sexual creatures rather than actual human beings with valid thoughts is a theme consistent with Camus’ work and society, as a whole. By not including any philosophical female characters in his work, Camus reemphasizes this point. Women should only be there to serve, to be sexy, and to be quiet. Meursault in The Stranger and Patrice in A Happy Death choose to be with lovers that are quiet and pretty, not one of them date women that have strong opinions or thoughts about the world. The women are just there to listen to the men’s social commentary and look beautiful while doing so. Camus consistently and continually undermines women and their intelligence in both novels through having only female characters with submissive personalities and beautiful bodies meant for sex.