Meursault's Essence

In an existentialist's world, Meursault lives the life of a man stuck in the existence phase. He doesn't appear to have many emotions and lives day to day without acknowledging the future or consequences of his actions. He is very observant of the things around him, but doesn't seem have any real connections with the people in his life e.g. he put his mother in a home and never visits her, he has a girlfriend but doesn't love her. He lives in an endless repeating cycle of work and sleep and observing and doesn't seem to realize that he is in any cycle at all. His cycle is broken when he shoots the Arab though. Meursault is put in prison and this is when I think he really starts to determine his essence. As Meursault sits in prison he begins to reflect on his life, seeing as that is about the only thing he can do to occupy his mind. He begins to put in an effort to help pass the time. I think in order to find your essence you have to be aware of yourself, and I think this is when Meursault becomes aware of his thoughts and actions. Although he is thrown into another cycle (being in prison) he is aware of the cycle and constantly strives to keep himself occupied. He even says that he was kind of happy, which is something he never said before in his regular life. He starts to remember little bits and pieces of his life and these little things begin to encompass his essence.