All societies have societal norms and rules that citizens are expected to follow. Those who fail to do so are either labeled provocative or non-conformist. Someone who defies society's rules is not necessarily disobeying deliberately, but rather because their own beliefs do not match. In the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, there is a predominance of characters who break the rules of society, but as a result, these characters suffer the consequences. Albert Camus relates these actions to the overall themes of the books in order to convey his message more effectively. To what extent does the theme of defying societal rules in The Stranger convey the theme of absurdism in the novel? The subthemes of femininity, individuality, and isolation tie into the overall theme of absurdism as an acceptable way to live life. Albert Camus conveys the idea of ​​the absurd throughout the novel through the main characters. The Stranger is written from the point of view of Meursault, a young man with an absurd mind. From the beginning of the novel, his indifference towards life and detachment from relationships are presented on the first page. The novel begins with the death of his mother. For any normal child in society, a significant event like this would be tragic and would have a huge impact on the individual. But that doesn't exactly apply to Meursault. Due to his general indifference towards life, no negative emotions arise directly from his mother's death. Rather, Meursault remains content, unphased by the death of his own mother. Indeed, after his mother's funeral, he “swam the next day – with a woman” (Camus, 14 years old) and ended up bringing her home. The later action of going to the beach with a woman shows his lack of n...... middle of paper ......cts from what the characters believe to be morally correct. And as a result, they feel that their actions and lifestyle are acceptable. Neither Mearsult nor Raymond are suggesting that their actions are inappropriate. However, Raymond views his actions as justifiable when in reality they are not. On the other hand, Meursault never lets on that what he did was a provocative act, until he is accused of a criminal and tried in court. Albert Camus uses the subthemes of isolation, femininity, and individuality to provide the reader with a better understanding of the message. This is seen through the expressions and emotions that characters feel after particular actions, regardless of the fact that they cross many of the societal rules that have been put in place. Works Cited Camus, Albert. The Stranger. Trans. Matthew Ward. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1988. Boo