#I DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD DIE LIKE THAT (it says unknown on the wiki probably bc tmp)

[gaygirldoodles]

Update: Just finished MAG 200 for the first time... I'm gonna need 4-5 business day to recover from this..

[stelar-nova]

where (and what) is meursault prison — a theory

spoilers for the bsd manga, light novel 55 minutes and the stranger by albert camus.

sources: bungou stray dogs wiki, sparknotes.

Someone probably talked about this already, but I don't care - I'll talk about it too in my own way. While Mersault is the name of a region in France, it is also the name of the main character in The Stranger by Albert Camus. Let's talk about that.

"The existence of the place itself is unknown. Only the top brass of the European government knows its exact location." - bungou stray dogs wiki

Whenever talking about Meursault, I've mostly seen people talk about it as if it is absolutely located in France. However that is never explicitly confirmed, and I think it's not there. Why would a top-security prison, the location of which is top secret, be so obviously named after its location? Where would they keep said prison away from prying eyes? Where would they get the materials to build a prison for dangerous ability users, strong enough to keep them confined? Here's where my theory comes in - Meursault is part of an ability.

One may argue: "Hey op, but wouldn't the prison dissapear because Dazai is touching it?" And to that I present to you the evidence why it wouldn't - Standard Island from 55 minutes. Perhaps Meursault is partially modified like Moby Dick, but I think it's more possible it's an ability that gained life, like the ability of Jules Verne.

About Standard Island

The island itself is the form of Jules Gabriel Verne's ability - "The Mysterious Island".

Due to it being Verne's ability, any ability-user who dies in that island will have their ability absorbed by Verne. H.G. Wells, who died on the island during her pursuit to retrieve the ability weapon, had her ability absorbed by Verne, which caused Standard Island to be trapped in a time loop.

Only when Dazai dies on the island, No Longer Human nullifies the ability-absorbing capability.

Later, it was known that Verne died as his ability took over his being; living as "Gab".

Who's to say Albert Camus' ability didn't do the same thing?

Does that mean Dazai has to die in order for everyone else to escape?

Well, no. At least I don't think so. Considering Nikolai's ability was able to get him and Sigma in, I'm quite convinced he is able to get them out as well if he wants to.

About Meursault from The Stranger

Meursault is psychologically detached from the world around him. Events that would be very significant for most people, such as a marriage proposal or a parent’s death, do not matter to him, at least not on a sentimental level.

In displaying his indifference, Meursault implicitly challenges society’s accepted moral standards, which dictate that one should grieve over death. Because Meursault does not grieve, society sees him as an outsider, a threat, even a monster. At his trial, the fact that he had no reaction to his mother’s death damages his reputation far more than his taking of another person’s life.

Meursault is amoral—he simply does not make the distinction between good and bad in his own mind.

"...If both sides are the same, then choose to become a good person. ...You might not see a great difference between right and wrong, but... saving others is something just a bit wonderful." Oda Sakunosuke To Dazai.

At the novel’s outset, Meursault’s indifference seems to apply solely to his understanding of himself. His thinking begins to broaden once he is sentenced to death. After his encounter with the chaplain, Meursault concludes that the universe is, like him, totally indifferent to human life. He decides that people’s lives have no grand meaning or importance, and that their actions, their comings and goings, have no effect on the world. When Meursault accepts “the gentle indifference of the world,” he finds peace with himself and with the society around him, and his development as a character is complete.

 "You said that we were two peas in a pod. You're right, but there's one key difference. ……It's true that all of mankind is sinful and foolish. But what's wrong with that?" Dazai to Fyodor

Whether this is the realization one of the characters is going to reach while in prison (possibly Dazai or Fyodor, considering the whole poison thing, and the fact that i think both of them are very similar to Meursault in some ways, but that's a topic for another day), or a completely new character with such beliefs (Albert Camus👀) might enter the storyline, I think it's important we keep in mind the theory of the absurd.

The theory of the absurd

The relationship between a human and the world is absurd. The human craves for meaning, but the world doesn't have it. Life is meaningless. In the search of meaning, we become aware of the absurd.

"You don't really understand God one bit, do you? 'Perfection and harmony'? God doesn't give a single care about those. I've seen it so many times… His gimmicks are the accidental and the illogical." Dazai to Fyodor

More than any character, this theory applies to Dazai the most. Constantly, he searches for any meaning and purpose, but he will never find it. Deep down he already knows. Oda Sakunoske already explained it to him after all.

"...You told me if you put yourself in a world of violence and bloodshed, you might be ale to find a reson to live. You won't find it. You should know that..." Oda Sakunosuke To Dazai Osamu

Conclusion: "Jules Verne is the first known victim who is 'killed' by his own ability." - bungou stray dogs wiki

How can we be sure he isn't the only one? Perhaps Meursault is actually part of an ability who possesed its owner's body, and is now roaming around somewhere in Yokohama, looking for their purpose.

of course i could be completely and utterly wrong as well !! apologies if this makes no sense i just went on a tangent as a lil fun theory i came up with, don't attack me for it lmao