With no divine guidance, people must figure out their own existence and what ultimately gives their uncertain lives meaning. Manik Bandopadhyay's Padma Nadir Majhi (1936) and Albert Camus's The Outsider (1942) reflect this thought in different social and cultural contexts. Each narrative underscores the contextual influences that determine human ethical choices. The main purpose of this study is to examine the character analysis of the two novels and how they face the fundamental questions of life, even amid social unrest, economic uncertainty, and deep personal conflicts. The contrasting historical realities of rural Bengal and post-war France shapes their responses. Yet, both works reflect a persistent struggle with alienation, absurdity, and the search for significance in a secular modern world. By situating these texts within the frameworks of existentialism and secularism, the paper highlights how Bandopadhyay and Camus effectively depict the crises of human existence and the ongoing attempts to affirm meaning in a disenchanted reality.