I believe the opening scene in The Stranger tells invaluable information about Meursault. His almost inhumane actions really interested me as most of the books we have read have expressed the narrator’s desire to be a part of some form of society (such as Jake and the Left Bank and Gregor and his workplace). In direct opposition to this, Meursault seems totally indifferent towards societal standards; he does not appear to want to fit in. When I first read the opening scene, I thought Meursault was almost cruel, not caring that his mother died, but as I reflect upon it, he seems indifferent, there isn’t a positive or negative spin on it.
His indifference is seen all throughout his mother’s funeral. He isn’t sad; he doesn’t even pretend to be. He wonders on what day Maman died out of curiosity, not because it seems to hold any significance to him. He drinks coffee and smokes in front of his dead mother with a caretaker. He also presents his decision to set his mother up in a home as logical, seemingly shedding no tears over it.
His total indifference in regards to his mother and societal standards is interestingly opposed by his interest in the environment. When he talks to others, his statements are short, to the point, and somewhat terse. He describes thinks quickly and in a matter-of-fact manner, but when he discusses the atmosphere and nature, he goes into much more detail. He goes on and on about the heat. Due to the heat directly affecting him, I believe him to be somewhat conceited, worrying mostly about what’s going on in terms of himself not others. This sets him apart from the bulk of society, a theme which interestingly has been mirrored in many of the other books we have read.
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