brain cells take a break

The Stranger (expository essay)

In The Stranger, by Albert Camus portrays Meursault, the books narrator and main character, as detached, and unemotional. He does not think about others or consequences, nor does he express much feelings in his relationships or during emotional times. Meursault is vey impassive throughout the book. After his mother’s death he doesn’t even cry! He shows limited feelings for his girlfriend, Marie Cardona, and shows no remorse at all for killing Arab. His reactions to life and to people distance him from emotions, positive or negative, and from intimate relationships with others, that’s why the book is called “The Stranger”. While this would be considered a bad trait, there is a young woman who wants to have a relationship with Meursault and a neighbor who wants friendship. He seems to be continent to be indifferent, possibly protected from pain by his indifference. Meursault rarely shows any feeling when in situations, which would, for most people, have strong emotions. Throughout the vigil, watching his mother dead body, and at her funeral, he never cries. He is further viewed enjoying a cup of good coffee with milk during the vigil, and having a smoke with a caretaker at the nursing home in which his mother dies. The following day he goes to the beach and meet former colleague named Marie Cardona. They swim, go to a movie then have relations together that night. Later, in their relationship, Marie asks Meursault if he wants to get married and he responds by saying”doesn’t matter to me and if she wants to get married he will agree”. She then asks if he loves her, he responds by saying “that he probably doesn’t, and marriage isn’t a serious thing and doesn’t require love”. This reaction was typical of Meursault. He appears to be casual and indifferent about life events. Nothing seems to be very significant to him. Later, on in the book, after he kills Arab, not ounce did he show remorse or guilt for what he did. He is