Journal #4 - The Stranger

At the end of the novel, Meursalt realizes that he cannot do anything about the indifference of the universe. He also realizes that the universe is indifferent. During the events leading up to this epiphany, Meursalt merely could not find the point in doing things, thus his lack of motivation. His statements of indifference represent the subconscious conflict he has with the absurd. However, at the close of the story, with immense time with himself and a looming death, the idea of the absurd surfaces into his head, and he confronts it directly for the first time. Meursalt loses all hope in this chapter and is then able to accept his death, and in a way becomes "enlightened".
Camus does not want the reader to give up hope and accept that all life ends, but rather, I think that he wants the reader to become aware of the absurd, enabling them to go through the process themselves. I think he more introduces the reader to a concept than he does try to influence the conclusion the reader gets.