Existence Precedes Essence

TIME, PATTERN and SPACE; three words I have found key to understanding Mersault’s life. He is living in a TIME of disorientation. Throughout the few days of his mom’s passing and funeral, he didn’t have much TIME to sleep. The days were not distinguished, yet an overlap of TIME. With TIME comes this reference to light. He sees visions, except nothing behind them. Marie Cardona, a girl who he found at the beach and happened to have a thing for, brings out his materialism. He is attracted to her physical appearance and brings her home. Then the next morning he wakes up and makes himself eggs out of a pan, like it’s just another normal day; a PATTERN. He lives in this idea of being used to things, doing things for the sake of doing them, not thinking why or how he is doing them. As an existentialist, he is more interested in living than in knowing. He lives in a big two bedroom apartment, but has all of his stuff piled into his room… wasted SPACE. Why does he do that? It seems a bit crazy to me. He states that he doesn’t like Sundays, yet he wastes a day doing absolutely nothing but staring out of a window for hours. We get a description of everything that happens, yet none have any meaning or lasting connection, just him simply going through the PATTERN of his day. Mersault is living the aesthetic. He is existing, but he is not living. All we know about him is that he is an incredibly perceptive person, but nothing else. He is unable to see the big picture of his life and only chooses to focus on the small things. I haven’t found Mersault making any choice that would give his existence essence. His existence lives in a continuous PATTERN of eating, sleeping, working and observing and is unaware of essence. His existence starts to be determined more as an essence when he shoots the Arab, which is definitely not a good way to determine your essence. Once he is put in prison, he is able to reflect on his life as he tries to help pass the TIME. He begins to become aware of himself and his actions, finding his essence. He begins to remember pieces of his life as he becomes aware of this PATTERN he is living in, as prison provides him with another one to live in. To find your essence, you must find yourself by becoming aware of your thoughts, actions and emotions. Here, Mersault does so.