The Stranger

Life. Life is unpredictable. It is a rollercoaster ride, with significant events that can raise your spirits and then drop them within a matter of seconds. Many authors have tried to portray life’s intricate plan and the different paths one’s life may take through stories or poetry, and one has succeeded. In The Stranger, Albert Camus explores the absurdity of life through the actions and reactions of Meursault, the narrator.

Meursault’s bizarre way of thought is first exhibited following the death of his mother.

“Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know. I got a telegram from the home: ‘Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours’. That doesn’t mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday.” (Camus 3).

Meursault’s main concern appears to be the precise day of his mother’s death. He shows little concern over the loss of his mother. Camus’ use of the phrase, “That doesn’t mean anything,” can be interpreted two ways; Meursault could be simply stating that the telegram does not tell the date of death, or he could be saying that it does not matter that his mother died at all. (Camus).

Later at Maman’s funeral, Meursault shows greater indifference toward his mother’s death. He arrives at the mortuary to find that his mother’s body has already been sealed in the coffin. The caretaker kindly offers to open the casket for him, upon which Meursault decidedly declines. At the funeral the next day, he pays little attention to the funeral, taking particular interest in the nature surrounding him. He feels no grief or sadness, though he finds the heat unbearable. (Camus 5-18).

Meursault’s dismissal of his boss’s offer of a position in Paris acknowledges his definite and impermeable beliefs about his life.

“I said that people never change their lives, that in any case one life was as good as another and that I wasn’t dissatisfied with mine here at all.” (Camus 41).

Here, Meursault illustrates his belief in a certain firmness to human existence, maintaining that one’s life remains constant though some of the details may change. He also implies that each person’s life is equal to everyone else’s, and that he would not be living a “better” life in Paris. (Stranger).

Camus demonstrates more of Meursault’s absurd actions through his relationship with Marie, which is haphazardly thrown together after the two spend the night together. This relationship does not mean much to Meursault, given his response when Marie asks if he loves her.

“A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her that it didn’t mean anything but that I didn’t think so.” (Camus 35).

Meursault answers Marie’s question completely and honestly. He does not try to be tactful or conform to the expectations of society. He then agrees to marry her if she insists, reflecting his ignorance of emotion. Marie and Meursault differ greatly in personality, their only similarity being a common delight in physical contact. (Stranger).

Meursault’s relationship with his neighbor, Raymond, is one of poor judgment. Over dinner one night, Raymond tells Meursault stories of how he beat his mistress for cheating on him. He asks Meursault to write a letter to lure his mistress back in order to further torment her. Meursault agrees mainly because he has the time and ability to do so. He does not make the distinction between good and bad in his own mind. Raymond uses Meursault not once but twice over the course of a short period of time, when he convinces him to testify on his behalf after he is arrested for beating his mistress. (Camus 28-37).

Meursault’s apathy peaks when he, Marie, and Raymond visit Masson, a friend of Raymond, at his beach house. Masson, Meursault, and Raymond run into two Arabs on the beach, one of which is the brother of Raymond’s mistress. A fight soon breaks out and Raymond is stabbed. After tending to the wound, Raymond and Meursault return to the beach. They find the Arabs at the spring, where Meursault talks Raymond out of shooting them. He takes Raymond’s gun and slips it in his pocket. (Camus 47-59). The responsibility of Meursault’s downfall on Raymond’s part is symbolized by this gun. Raymond gives Meursault the gun, “passing” the responsibility of deciding whether to shoot the Arab or not to him. (Stranger). Later on, Meursault returns to the spring and shoots the Arab with that same gun for no apparent reason. (Camus 59).

Ignace Feuerlicht, a critic for PMLA, analyzes Meursault’s mindset before and after the shooting. “At first, Meursault tries to prevent Raymond from shooting, then he thinks that one could shoot or not shoot, which is not a very innocent thought,