The tender indifference

We find that most of The Outsider is written in the passive voice. That is, things are done to Meursault. Particularly in part two of the novel when he loses control of his life so to speak.

'I was being depicted as taciturn and uncommunicative'
'I'd be handed back to the guards'

This emphasises how he is formed by his society. His character is made for him. Note the difference between him and Holden. Holden does the judging. Meursault is the judged. Is Meursault a victim of a dominating society or simply so indifferent to the world that he resigns himself to being 'pushed around' by society? The passive voice is effective in presenting Meursault lack of engagement with society. But he is, however, a stranger above all to himself.

As he murders a man, it is as if he is a spectator to his own actions. A voyeur. 'It set off the trigger'.
'It' killed the man, not him. [The avoidance of agency]
Meursault constantly rejects responsibility. 'I even said, 'its not my fault.'' This being in reference to his mother's death.

This is why the ending of the novel is hugely significant. He says, 'I opened myself for the first time to the tender indifference of the world'. This flourish of the active voice indicates a kind of 'epiphany' for Meursault. To me, it suggests that the 'purpose' of life is the maintenance of an integrity in the face of the indifference of the world. That is, his loyalty to the truth in the face of whatever hardship or consequence that would bring.

It may seem surreal to us that he hopes he would be greeted with 'cries of hatred' at his execution but to him the more the people abhor him, the more integrity he has. He hasn't bent/conformed to the will of the people.