Literature Analysis #3

The Stranger by Albert Camus

 

1. Because the novel is Existentialist, it is somewhat difficult to determine the course of the plot. How I understood it, the exposition was the entire first part of the novel, from Meursault finding out about his mother's funeral to him meeting Marie and everything in between, up until the inciting incident which I believe to be when Meursault shoots and kills a man. Everything up until this point is basically just ho-hum background information. There is no real dramatic change in Meursalt over the course of the exposition. Once he shoots the man, however, everything begins happening all at once, at a much quicker pace. This is when Meursalt starts to sort of realize what he's done, though he still doesn't really feel anything or have any real change. The change occurs when he, on the way to death row, discovers life has no point but that he is happy with this discovery. The narrative fulfills the author's purpose through creating definite  mood changes in the characters throughout the story, as well as in the actions they take and the words they speak.

2. The theme of the novel, like most existentialist works, is that once you stop trying to make meaning of life, that is when you can truly be happy.

3. The author's tone is one of indifference. At the beginning of the story, when Meursault is dealing with the death of his mother, most people would be expected to be distraught or sad. Meursault, on the contrary, doesn't show much if any emotion at all. This is also true when he meets Marie and they spend the night together. He tells her that it was nothing, though for most couples it would be a big deal. He also treats their engagement as if it has no real big purpose. Then again at the end of the story, when he kills Raymond's mistresses brother, he again shows no real emotion, whereas usually there would be at least some remorse shown.

4."Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know." Page 1. This basically sets the tone of indifference that continues throughout the entirety of the novel. It also gives the reader further insight into who Meursault really is and how the plot is going to pan out, whether he'll develop as a character or remain fully stagnant throughout the course of the novel.

CHARACTERIZATION
1. Both when Camus describes Meursault as an atheist and removed (when he is at his mother's funeral), he is directly characterized. Through this direct characterization, the author is able to establish Meursault's character as one that is greatly non-religious and detached, which he is. Two example of indirect characterization are when Meursault tells Marie that their night together didn't mean much and when he shoots the man. This means of characterization show that he truly is detached and reinforces his non-moving character.

2. The author's syntax/diction does not really change when focusing in on certain characters. Camus tries to create a feeling of detachment and irrelevance when speaking of all characters involved in the story. Though Meursault is the one who tells Marie that their night meant nothing, she does not really argue or disagree in any way.
3. Meursalt is static all the way until the very end. He remains detached from life until he finally realized that it has no meaning and shows some sign of true happiness, showing his change from static to dynamic. He is a round character because he was the main character, whose choices and thoughts gave way for uncovering the theme that true happiness resides in the discovery that life does not have a purpose.
4. After reading the book, I felt more like I'd read a character. This isn't because Camus did not do a good job of characterizing Meursault, but rather that a character like him is too unrealistic to seem like I could meet. Though I do believe there are people that would not express remorse when it comes to murder, the way in which Meursault deals with all people and aspects of his life is too indifferent to be realistic.