The Stranger Research Paper

Albert Camus’ novel, The Stranger is set in 1940s Algiers, which at the time is considered a French territory. The protagonist of the novel, Meursault lives in this society where the French natives are considered superior to the Arabs. Also, in this society there is a clear distinction in beliefs between the existentialist and the absurdist, Meursault. Camus portrays this contrast through the motif of heat, as judgment from society pressuring Meursault. Through this harsh judgment, it hinders into the trial of murder where Meursault is convicted based on is character rather than his actual crime, ultimately, leading to his execution. Through the motif of heat, Meursault is characterized as an absurdist who is neglected by society. As the

As an absurdist, he does not try to find any meaning within his life because it is completely ‘absurd’ to believe in any type of meaning. When presented with any sort of discomfort of wrongdoing that blame was immediately pointed to the sensation of heat. Furthermore, Meursault states, “…a soldier smiled at me and asked if I’d been traveling long. I said “Yes” just so I wouldn’t have to say anything else” (Camus 4). Through this, the soldier symbolizes society trying to reach out to Meursault; however, he is resilient and does not feel any motive to conform towards the societal norm. With the status of the person starting the conversation as a soldier, who are generally respected for their service, Meursault does not have any gratitude or positive genuine feelings towards this. In similar fashion Meursault portrays his attitude again at his encounter with the Arab. At the climax point in the novel Meursault is confronted by an Arab and Meursault decides to shoot him for no reason except for this sensation of heat that he endured. In this moment Meursault described it as, “But the whole beach throbbing in the sun, was pressing on my back… the sun was starting to burn my cheeks… the sun was the sum as it had be the day I’d buried my Maman, and like then, my forehead was especially hurting me” (Camus 59). Shortly after this is when Meursault decided to take the life of the Arab, “…I squeezed my hand around the revolver. The trigger gave; and there... is where it all started. I shook off the sweat and the sun. I knew I had shattered the harmony of the day… then I fired four more times.. and it was like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness” (Camus 59). The language used by Camus is a visual image of the weapon and the way Meursault carried himself through this. He does not state that he himself pull the weapon but that the