In 'The Stranger', Camus expresses his philosophy of the absurd. 'The Stranger' was Camus's first novel, depicting the story of an emotionally detached, unaffected, and seemingly amoral man, Meursault. When first reading the novel, Meursault may seem like an amoral character, refusing to comply with society's standards of morality. The novel opens with Meursault saying “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know. I got a telegram from the home: ‘Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.' That doesn't mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday.” After reading this opening passage, I was taken aback by Meursault's apparent emotional indifference and detachment. Meursault does not appear to be affected by the news of his mother's death, but rather concerns himself with what society would normally consider as trivial details. Additionally, Meursault's comment, “that doesn't mean anything”, reveals another key aspect of his character, his belief that death is inevitable and a part of life.
[...] I told him that everyone was eventually going to die and that death was a natural part of life. I tried to get him to accept the fact that death was inevitable. He was either not listening or not processing what I was saying. I reminded him that he used to live without her and that he could live without her now. He looked at me strangely. I felt like I needed to justify myself. I added that I knew it would be hard for him and that it would take some getting used to. [...]
[...] The stranger by Camus A review Statement of Intent In The Stranger, Camus expresses his philosophy of the absurd. The Stranger was Camus's first novel, depicting the story of an emotionally detached, unaffected, and seemingly amoral man, Meursault. When first reading the novel, Meursault may seem like an amoral character, refusing to comply with society's standards of morality. The novel opens with Meursault saying “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know. I got a telegram from the home: ‘Mother deceased. [...]
[...] Looking back on it though, I may have been wrong. I could feel everyone's eyes studying me. I felt as though I should go and talk to M. Perez. I asked him how long it had been since he'd known Maman. He told me that it hadn't really been that long but that they had become inseparable. I don't know how I understood him through his loud sobs. I offered him my handkerchief. He thanked me and started crying even harder. [...]
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