Camus entitled his novel The Stranger because his protagonist actually was a stranger to both his associates and his surroundings. Monsieur Meursault was never really known by anyone. Nobody ever knew what really made Meursault tick and nobody ever really knew what motivated him. Meursault was a wanderer throughout his life.
Meursault was also a stranger because he did not understand other peoples motivations either. Meursault formed relationships easily enough and interacted with others. But, it was obvious that Meursault interacted in these relationships the way other people expected him to. For example, when Meursault invited Salamano into his house, he eventually became bored with Salamano. He was getting on my nerves a little, but I didnt have anything to do and I didnt feel sleepy. Just for something to say, I asked him about his dog (Camus, 44).
This and other thoughts reveal quite a bit about Meursault. Meursault is brutally honest with himself. He is, however, polite. Despite not really wanting to talk with Salamano, Meursault asks him about his lost dog. The conversation continues and Meursault reveals another thought that tells the reader he is talking only to please Salamano: I said he (the dog) was well bred and Salamano looked pleased (Camus, 45).
Here, the reader sees that Meursault notices that he is doing well in the conversation and he takes note of it.
Meursault is also very distant from everyone he meets and interacts with. He was distant at his mothers funeral and he was distant with Marie and he was distant with the police both times he was questioned. At Maman’s funeral, Meursault paid more attention to his surroundings, the nurse with the bandaged face, the bright sunlight and the caretaker than he did his mothers body. He did not even enter a time of mourning Meursault did not want to look at his mother or have the casket opened.
The Essay on ''A Mother To Her Waking Infant'' By Joanna Baillie
A Mother to her Waking Infant was first published in 1790; the poem is narrated by a mother who is focusing her thoughts and words towards her newborn baby. The poem is directed solely at the child of the title, with the mothers words starting as the child awakes, Now in thy dazzling half-oped eye. Joanna Baillie uses a number of techniques to mirror and represent a new mothers emotions and ...
Instead, he drank coffee and smoked cigarettes. This proves Meursault distance from his mother. Meursault also is distant with the woman who eventually should become his fiancee. He enjoys Maries company. But, it seems like her enjoys her as a woman rather than as an individual. Maries breasts seem to be Meursault favorite part about her.
Meursault is also distant when dealing with the police. It appears as if he is watching himself deal with other people while outside of his own body. He reports the lawyers and judges questioning matter of fact ly and stoically. One passage that involves the courtroom and the variety of people in it, shows how alone Meursault really was: I noticed then that everyone was waving and exchanging greetings and talking, as if they were in a club where people are glad to find themselves among others from the same world (Camus, 84).
Unfortunately for Meursault, nearly everyone is in a club that he is not a member of. Meursault is in his own exclusive club of which he is the only member.
In the very last sentence of The Stranger, Meursault embraces his aloneness: For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with dries of hate (Camus, 123).
This is after Meursault thinks about his imprisonment and how being imprisoned is so much different from being a free man. After reading The Stranger, a reader can see that the stranger in this novel is Meursault himself. He is almost totally alone in the world without any true friends. He is only an observer and a stranger to everyone.
