The Stranger is a classic post-War Existential novel about alienation. First, I'd like you to write a bit about what that word "alienation" mean to you. (Don't look it up unless you have no idea what it means; I'm more interested in what it means to you than in a dictionary definition.)
Second, Camus is writing in 1942. What is going on in the world at this time that Camus might be reflecting on or writing about? What is going on in Europe? In France? (Feel free to google a bit.)
Reread the last few pages of Chapter 2 again. (pp. 21-24) What is going on here? How does Meursault spend his Sunday? How is it connected to his mother who died two days earlier?
It seems like throughout the book Meursault remarks on the most mundane details--the weather, running to catch the bus--with the same emotion he reports his mother's death or the woman being beaten in his apartment building. What do you make of this? What is Meursault like?
Meursault is having a regular Sunday. He is acting like nothing has happened. He spends the day relaxing, looking out the balcony, Making nice dinner. Meursault feels indifferent towards everything. He doesn't seem sad that is mother died or seems happy. The fact that he doesn't seem sad that is mother died makes me sick because I love my mother a lot and i would be nothing with out her.
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ReplyDeleteMeursault seems to have a very nonchalant demeanor. He appears to not care about anything, its like hes just going through life. Meursault upon receiving the news about his mother's death showed no significant sign that it impacted him in anyway. He continues his life as if nothing had happened, he speak about the event of his surroundings the same-way he speak about the death of his mother, this is not a good sign one could conclude that he never really loved her or he sincerely lack the emotions to display it.
ReplyDeleteMeursault spends his Sunday staying at the apartment and watching the busy streets. He gives lots of description about the weather and about the whole evening. I think that Meursault didn't really care that her mother died. He was more busy in his own life but then also he was thinking about his mother which made me confuse that does he really cares about his mother or not. he was keeping his thoughts to himself than sharing them with some one else.
ReplyDeleteMeursault is describing a typical Sunday in his eyes. He spends his Sunday inside of his house. He looking over the street through the bedroom window and describing the typical Sunday on the block. He mentions families going to church, kids trying to go the movies, he even goes to great detail in describing the change in the sky and car traffic. All of this is connected because the house was big where it was just him and his mother. Everything he did he was with his mother so he always had someone to be there with him. Through the book he mentions these different detail about the weather and trying to catch the bus to give a more accurate depiction of these actions....
ReplyDeleteMeursault is enjoying his Sunday. He went to the beach for a swim. When he was leaving his mother's funeral he seemed happy and he was thinking about sleeping for 12 hours. I think it is not normal because when some one close to us dies. We have a very hard time to get back to ourselves. But he seemed very normal and he acted like he didn't care that his mother died.
ReplyDeleteWhen Mersault's mother passes away, his family and the people around him are remotely upset. Every one in Mersault's family shed tears and worry about the aftermath of the death of their loved one, which is the body. Thus his mother recently died, his Sunday is spent just like another day. His actions and feelings are differentiated in comparison to his family. Typically, after a loved one has passed away, they would be devastated and in tears for a long period of time. But not Mersault; he is carrying on the day just as if it were a regular day. No feelings or emotions are dispersed. Mersault evidently seems to not care for his mother's death, it is as if he's isolating himself completely.
ReplyDeleteMersault is expressing similarities between two forms that are different and different roles existentially. The main part is the death of the woman. To be able to compare any loss of life to the weather is thinking deeply which is paramount when sympathizing with other forms of life. Meursault is a very emotionally attached person who needs affirmation from those who he feels he can trust and relate to. He's caring and experienced. He feels for those close to him and loyal to his beliefs. Intensively looking, analyzing, comprehending the text, some may be able to relate Mersault's characteristics to those of the weather. We like the seasons do go through changes. If we stayed the same, something would come along and change us. If there is a picture of a road with buildings on the left and dirt on the right that is split down the middle, both sides lose touch. Putting those two pics back together doesn't have to be perfect, somewhere along the lines the two halves may blur.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Meursault reaction to the girl get beaten in the apartment building is the same reaction to his mothers death because he doesn't know what to do. Not everyone reacts to certain situations the same way. I make that Meursault is not someone who likes to show their emotions and rather hold everything in.
ReplyDeleteIn these pages we see how Meursault is affected by the death of his mother.He says "It was just the right size when Mamman was here. Now its too big for me" He moves all of his stuff into one room that to me shows that he wants to feel enclosed. After his mother died he probably feels lonely and just wants everything close to him maybe to give him a sense of closure and closeness. He spends his Sunday looking out the window of his room looking onto the street. From day to evening he follows the crowd of people imagining where they're coming from and going to. You can tell he is distant from society. This connects with his mother because it shows the type of relationship she probably had when she was alive
ReplyDelete-To me alienation means to be separated from society. As if you do not know whats going on in other places but your own
ReplyDelete-During 1942 France is taken over by Germany. So Europe is going through problems
-In the last two pages it describes what Meursault sees and the reader can tell that it is just another regular Sunday....
Meursault doesnt feel emotions since he doesnt grieve over his moms death. Instead the day after his mom dies he spends time with his girlfriend and when he tells her that his mom has died his tone remains the same. I like the fact that Mersault doesnt feel or show any emotions because I havent read too many books where a character feels nothing so im interested in seeing how this story unfolds
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