Meursault's True Identity

Meursault never really actualized his identity in "The Stranger". His entire life revolved around other peoples' decisions and he never had a true self. Toward the end of the book when he was in jail, Meursault began thinking about what had taken place and this was the very first time that the reader was able to get a slight sense of what his thoughts were. The time he spent in jail gave him no other option but to reflect on things and to become somewhat of an individual for once. He pondered on what he had gone through and what he thought of all of it. He really did not show much emotion however. Still, I would say that Meursault never became a true individual.