Camus The Stranger: Summary and Outlines Some of the Main Themes

             The novel's protagonist, Meursault, is a distanced and indifferent
             young man. He does not believe in God, and lives his life with seemingly
             sensuous abandon. After Meursault is caught up in the life of a local
             pimp, he rather inexplicably murders a young man on the beach, and is put
             on trial. In a ridiculous and seemingly arbitrary trial, he is essentially
             tried and found guilty for failing to adhere to society's beliefs and
             morals. It is during this trial that Meursault comes to terms with the
             The Stranger begins with the news that Meursault's mother has died.
             Writes Camus, "Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know. I had
             a telegram from the home: 'Mother passed away. Funeral tomorrow. Yours
             sincerely.' That doesn't mean anything. It may have been yesterday" (p.
             9). Here, the somewhat disturbing detachment of Meursault's recounting of
             his mother's death sets the distanced and cynical tone for his experiences
             Meursault takes two days off work to go to the home where his mother
             lived. At the home he meets the warden and caretaker, and views his
             mother's body. At the home, Meursault naps, talks to the caretaker, and
             drinks some white coffee. He encounters his mother's friends, and notes
             that he had " the ridiculous impression that they were there to judge me"
             (p. 15). The next day, Meursault struggles with the heat during his
             mother's funeral service, while his mother's fiancé, Thomas Pérez, is
             overcome with grief. Meursault looks forward to returning home, and having
             the chance to sleep for 12 hours straight.
             The next day, Saturday, Meursault decides to go to the beach. There
             he meets Marie Cardona, who he frolics with in the water. Later, although
             Marie is somewhat disturbed at the death of Meursault's mother, she agrees
             to see a comedy with him that evening. The next morning, Meursault enjoys
             ...

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Camus The Stranger: Summary and Outlines Some of the Main Themes. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 11:06, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/201832.html