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Essay / Non-conformity and its effects - 715
A non-conformist refers to a person who cannot respect the established rules and values of society. Because he has different standards, he perceives the world in a unique way and, therefore, does not accept the point of view of the general population. He is the one who takes the path that most would not be willing to take. One such individual is Meursault, the nonconforming protagonist of Albert Camus's The Stranger. In this critically acclaimed novel, Camus carefully develops Meursault's nonconformist character and explains how this personality causes a series of events that ultimately result in Meursault's death. Meursault's impassive behaviors clearly reveal his non-conformity to society. For example, Meursault was never able to express grief over the death of his mother. When he hears the news, he simply comments: “Mom died today… That doesn’t mean anything” (Camus 3). His remark reveals the shocking extent of his non-conformism because he bluntly expresses his indifference to the situation. By society's standards, the death of a mother should tear anyone's ear apart...