How does The Stranger explore alienation and society’s expectations?

In The Stranger, Albert Camus uses the protagonist, Meursault, to explore the absurdity of life and the conflict between an individual’s authentic experience and societal expectations.12

Meursault embodies a profound sense of alienation because he refuses to "play the game" of social convention. His detachment is evident from the beginning, notably in his lack of outward grief following his mother’s death. Because he refuses to perform the expected emotional rituals, society views him as a threat.13

During his trial, the legal system focuses less on the murder he committed and more on his perceived callousness and failure to conform to moral norms. Ultimately, Meursault is condemned not merely for his crime, but because he refuses to lie about his feelings or pretend that life possesses an inherent meaning that he does not perceive. By rejecting these societal demands, Meursault becomes an "outsider" who highlights the disconnect between human existence and the rigid structures society imposes upon it.13