The Stranger
...sault for advice. Meursault seems withdrawn during his time with Raymond. Raymond had actually asked Meursault into his room so that he may ask Meursault’s opinion, “because I was a man, I knew about things, I could help him out, and then we’d be pals” (Camus 29). Meursault remains quiet in the conversation, but eventually responds, “I didn’t say anything, and he asked me again if I wanted to be pals. I said it was fine with me: he seemed pleased” (29). It literally made no difference to Meursault if he was stated as a friend of Raymond’s or not. The way that Meursault does not contribute to the conversation and that it is just “fine with [him]” to be friends creates an image of indifference. This image continues to grow as Raymond continues to converse with Meursault. Raymond goes on to tell of his problems with women, and Meursault still remains silent. After Raymond’s confessions are over he once again thanks Meursault for being a pal, “I didn’t mind being his pal, and he seemed set on it” (33). Once again, Meursault’s attitude makes it seem that he doesn’t really care if he is Raymond’s pal. The violence occurs when Meursault wandering alone, finds himself around one of the Arabs. He being a sensualist person, who acted in accordance with his physical desire, shot and killed the Arab. He did so because of the extreme heat and horrible weather conditions that pushed him to the ultimate limit. The imagery provided by Camus of the extreme condition of the weather makes the situation believable and understandable. After the murder of the Arab, Meursault goes to trial. At this trial he is found guilty and sentenced to be executed. Camus made this novel a satire of the legal system, which sentences Meursault not because he is a non-religious, non-conformist, amoral person but because he did not cry at his mother's funeral. Meursault is an anomaly in society; he cannot relate directly to others because he does not live as they do. Meursault is simplistic, even detached; he speaks of his mother's death without regret for her loss, merely stating, "Maman died today" (1). He goes on to mention that perhaps it was yesterday - he is not sure which. He cannot abide by the same moral confines as the rest of the world because he does not grasp them; he is largely indifferent to events occurring around him. Meursault's entire being is sensuous, yet unemotional. He derives a certain level of pleasure from eating and drinking, smoking cigarettes, sitting on his balcony to watch passersby. He likes to wash his hands, especially at work in the morning, when the roller towel is dry. He also likes sex. When Marie leaves, he lies in bed and tries to get the salty smell of her hair from the pillow. Yet all these things are tactile; Meursault derives physical satisfaction from them, but there is no emotion attached. This is in...