The Stranger - Passage Explication

See pithy remarks for my personal comments.


In The Stranger, Albert Camus develops a complex character named Meursault to explore the theory of the absurd and the motif of truth. Camus demonstrates these concepts by placing Meursault in unusual and uncommon situations, recording his behavior and reactions. Some of the more notable incidents, such as when Meursault kills the Arab and the time he spends awaiting execution, reveal the ideas Camus wants to convey.

During Meursault’s excursion to the beach, he and Raymond encounter the vengeful Arabs. Tensions rise between the two parties, because Raymond, a neighbor and friend of Meursault, had dismissed his girlfriend for cheating on him, prompting the woman’s brothers to result to violence. Although Raymond is not fatally injured in the first skirmish, Meursault kills one of the Arabs in his second encounter, not out of revenge, but out of frustration of the weather.

In this beginning half of the novel, Camus depicts Meursault as an emotionless individual who simply lets his existence carry him on in life. It seems Meursault takes no responsibility for his actions, hence his subconscious belief in absurdism, which states that finding meaning in the world is useless. Thus, instead of returning back to the bungalow retreat, Meursault heads towards the beach, since he is “unable to face the effort it would take to climb the wooden staircase and face the women again”(57). He had already told the women back in the bungalow about Raymond’s injury, but he “didn’t like having to explain to them”(54), especially if he had to do it again once he returned with Raymond. In effect, his display of frank honesty shows his refraining from escalating unnecessary emotions.

Meursault’s unwillingness to return contradicts his motive to walk on the beach. Despite the blazing Algerian sun, he continues walking on the beach. The “dazzling red glare”(57), the “fiery air”(58), and the lazy “sound of the waves”(58) seem to be pushing Meursault forward. He perseveres despite the “burning, which I couldn’t stand anymore, that made me move forward. I knew that it was stupid, that I wouldn’t get the sun off me by stepping forward. But I took a step, one step, forward”(59). Meursault acknowledges the intensive heat, but is not persuaded to retreat. In fact, he continues even after seeing the Arab in the distance. In response, the Arab draws his knife, and Meursault suffers a “scorching blade slashed at my eyelashes and stabbed at my stinging eyes”(59). Camus may have chosen these words to represent the ongoing heat that Meursault is experiencing; it is ambiguous as to whether the Arab actually hits him with the knife. As a direct result of the sun, he immediately shoots the Arab, killing him on the spot. The murder is illogical; Meursault sees no consequences from the Arab’s death other than minor relief from the heat.

After a speedy, unfair trial, the prosecutor gives Meursault the death penalty. While awaiting execution day in his jail cell, he contemplates his life and the approaching execution. During the trial, the prosecutor focuses much on Meursault’s lack of feeling during his mother’s funeral. The issue becomes more important than the actual murder, to the point where the prosecutor argues that Meursault be given the death sentence for being incapable of showing emotion or remorse during the funeral. Meursault remains stolid to the decision, for he originally sees no use in having a lawyer or accepting God to forgive his sins. He persists that the truth be known, in spite of the outcome.

Meursault thinks deeply about the recent events as the days dwindle in his cell. He is anxious about “the dawn and my appeal”(112). Since the officials always came to the cells at dawn, Meursault restlessly “spent my nights waiting for that dawn”(113). Although he begins to doubt the news of an appeal, he continues to listen for footsteps outside his cell. But after finally assuming that his appeal is denied, Meursault begins recognizing his own mortality and the responsibility one has for one’s own life.

In the end, Camus has Meursault accept the demise he caused upon himself. For the first time in a while, he thinks about his mother and Marie, his girlfriend. However, regarding his mother’s death, he felt that “nobody, nobody had the right to cry over her”(122). Likewise, he states that “remembering Marie meant nothing to me”(115). In following the fundamentals of absurdism, Meursault believes that it is pointless to think anymore of these people, since they are either gone from the world or will forget him soon after he dies. Camus uses a grave tone here to express Meursault’s seriousness on the subject; Meursault isn’t saying this because he is depressed of his upcoming execution. He initially seems afraid of death once he learns the responsibility he had over his own life. But with the revelation he digs up while reflecting over the situation, Meursault ultimately accepts his death as punishment. He actually feels happy in finding the “gentle indifference of the world”(122). His fleeting happiness is the epitome of the irrationality he has had to deal with.

Camus succeeds in exposing absurdism and literal truth to the reader with his concise exposition of Meursault’s character. Whether at the beach or on trial or in the small cell, Meursault is put in odd situations in which he expresses deep thoughts over and reacts differently that most people would. In explaining the absurdism that Meursault experiences, Camus makes him an honest man despite his shortcomings, which eventually causes the character’s downfall.