The Stranger: Thesis Statement

In The Stranger, Camus uses the motif of misunderstanding to contrast the rational views of Meursault and the irrational views possessed by figures of authority or power. By  alerting the reader about the absurdity of imposing laws that hold no inherent value, Camus affirms the validity of wants or values  labeled as unacceptable by society.

The Stranger: Journal #8

The Stranger was an entertaining and interesting book to read, and I ended up thoroughly enjoying it by the time we finished re-reading it. A good work of literature in my opinion is one that communicates a larger message about the human condition through a combined usage of symbols and other literary techniques. Camus definitely achieved that with this book, using a large variety of different techniques to create a novel that has the potential to be interpreted in a wide variety of ways. I feel that this novel is useful in learning how to properly analyze a text for original ideas because of that.

The Stranger: Journal #7

In his novel The Stranger,  through the side characters' misinterpretation of Meursault's words and actions, Camus develops a theme regarding the validity of wants and desires labeled as socially unacceptable by a society that ultimately sets its own interpretation of right and wrong.

Misunderstanding quotes:

"Just then the caretaker came in behind me. He must have been running. He stuttered a little. "We put the cover on, but I'm supposed to unscrew the casket so you can see her." I answered, "No." He was quiet, and I was embarrassed because I felt I shouldn't have said that. He looked at me and then asked "Why not?" ... "I don't know." ... "I understand."" (6)

"Fumbling a little with my words and realizing how ridiculous I sounded, I blurted out it was because of the sun. People laughed." (103)

 "As always, whenever... "You see, you see!" ... Obviously, I again said no. He fell back in his chair." (69)

"He said that he had peered into it and that he had found nothing, gentlemen of the jury. He said the truth was that I didn't have a soul and that nothing was within my reach." (101)

"Then we went for a walk through the main streets through the other end of town. The women were beautiful and I asked Marie if she'd noticed. She said yes and that she understood what I meant." (42)

Disconnection with Marie, his want without true feelings for her:

"That morning Marie came by to see me and ask on me if I wanted to marry her. I said it didn't make any difference to me and that we could if she wanted to. Then she wanted to know if I loved her. I answered the same way I had last time." (41)

"We swam a few strokes and she reached out and held on to me. I felt her legs wrapped around mine and I wanted her." (51)

"She shouted again, "You'll get out and we'll get married!" I answered, "You think so?" but it was mainly just to say something." (75)

"For example, I was tormented by my desire for a woman. It was only natural; I was young. I never thought specifically of Marie. But I thought so much about a woman, about women, about all the ones I had known, about all the circumstances in which I had enjoyed them..." (77)

"Marie entered. She had put on a hat and she was still beautiful. But I liked her better with her hair loose." (93)

Societies Standards (vs Meursault):

"He tried to change the subject by asking me why... on my side. (120)

""Indeed," he loudly exclaimed, "I accuse this man of burying his mother with crime in his heart!" (96)

"Hardly anyone listened after that when Masson testified that I was an honest man "and I'd even say a descent one." (94)

"It was clear she was cheating on me. So I left her. (30)

"I asked my boss for two days off and there was no way he was going to refuse me with an excuse like that. But he wasn't too happy about it. I even said, "It's not my fault." He didn't say anything.

The misunderstanding of Meursault's words and actions bring about an overlying sense of a universal domination of societal rules. When Meursault goes against these rules following wants that seem strange to everyone else, he violates these man-made laws. Meursault's disconnection with these rules is further expanded upon through his relationship with Marie, and through the above quotes demonstrates his lust for her physical features and disregard for deeper emotional involvement. While Meursault sees nothing wrong with this, it comes in conflict with societies' laws and rules, bring about the larger conflict that dominates the book's second half.

I also posted a comment about this thesis:
In Albert Camus' The Stranger, the use of sparse intellectual language demonstrates Mersault's clear intentions and emotions.

The Stranger: Journal #6

Five Literary Questions:

1. Why does Meursault feel that his killing of the Arab was achieving happiness?

2. What does the story about the rich man contribute to the story?

3. Could the motif of companionship possibly contribute to a larger theme?

4. Could the motif of misunderstanding (by the caretaker, judge, etc.) also contribute to a larger theme?

5. Why does Camus emphasize on the color of clothing?

My answers:

1. Is the author being racist when he only refers to the Arabs by their ethnicity and not by their names? Why? (Schulte, Jarrad)
-It is possible that Camus has Meursault only refer to the Arabs by their ethnicity to help highlight the character's racist views and develop a theme regarding the irrationality that surrounds the actions of people that possess such views.


2. Does the sun have a symbolic value? If so, what? (Possibility for illumination of meaning?) (Sakaguchi, Sean)
-Yes, the sun symbolizes the illumination of meaning but it also, through it's intense heat, represents the overbearing implications that such knowledge brings.


3. Why does Camus only vaguely describe Maman was like when she seems to be such a key part in the novel? (Rosette, Kylee)
-Through Meursault, Camus only minimally describes Maman to highlight the unimportance of the dead, which goes along with his emphasis on the physical aspect of things to create a theme around the importance of living life to its fullest


4. Why does Camus set the story on the beach so often and why does he make it a place that Meursault desires to go to? (Graham, Shannon)
-Maybe Camus sets the story on the beach so often to show how the intrusion of a stranger into a familiar place can lead one to violate their own moral code.


5. What is the effect of having dialogue interspersed within the paragraphs rather than begin new paragraphs? (Kallevig, Ivan)
-The interspersion of dialog within the paragraphs helps show us that what Meursault is telling us might be unreliable.

The Stranger: Journal #5

Camus most likely split the novel to emphasize the seperation of the two parts and provide the reader with a clue that something had changed with Meursault's arrest. By splitting the novel in half, he helps the reader understand the immense change of setting and pace that happens in the story. It is possible that he does this to further demonstrate the strong consequences to Meursault's actions.

The Stranger: Journal #4

Six Questions:

1. How exactly does Camus incorporate the Absurd into his work, specifically the Stranger?

2. How did Camus experience in Paris during World War I affect his work?

3. So the Absurd isn't just another word for existentialism? Or could the concept possibly incorporate a certain part of the philosophy?

4. Why exactly does Meursault kill the Arab? What was his reasoning behind his decision, or better yet, was their any reasoning at all?

5. Why is Meursault so passive during his trial? Does it have something to do with his personal philosophy or perhaps his mental state?

6. How does The Stranger tie into religion?

The Stranger: Journal #3

reserved  - doing the make up work so I can attempt to complete this journal

The Stranger: Journal #2

reserved - doing the make up work so I can attempt to complete this journal

The Stranger: Journal #1

I have three different tabs available for use with The Stranger:

1.Yellow tabs will be used to mark any important plot points, such as the murder or the trial. In addition, they will be written on with information regarding the outcome of any conflicts.

2. Blue tabs will be used to make a note of any motifs. I will be specifically looking for things related to sleep or rest.
    3. Purple tabs will be used to mark the introduction of characters, or important developments regarding them. One of the characters I want to look further into is the old man with the dog.

If I find another tab color, I will use it to mark non-motif symbols that I think contribute to the theme.