The Stranger, by Albert Camus, depicts a story about a young man named Meursault whose mother has just died. After his mother dies, he kills an Arab man senselessly so he is put on trial. Throughout the story of his trial, Meursault’s mindset is explored. In Albert Camus’ novel The Stranger, Meursault displays the theme of alienation. The main character isolates himself emotionally, from society, his friends and his significant other, Marie. Meursault does not give an explanation as to why he detaches himself from the world. However, the nonexistence of his father and detachment with his mother are key factors that correlate to his need to alienate himself.
The absence of Meursault’s father plays into the one of the reasons why Meursault …show more content…
Before Meursault’s mother died, he sent her to a nursing home. Meursault rarely visited his mother in the home because he felt she seemed happier at the nursing home with organized structure and friends, rather than staying at home with Meursault-where she was bored. Meursault also never visited his mother because it took up too much time on his Sunday and thought it was troubling to buy tickets, get to the bus and travel two hours to see her. The infrequency of him visiting caused Meursault to become emotionally detached from his mom. Therefore, on the day Madame passed away, Meursault showed no emotion. When he walks out the diner, while receiving sympathy for his mothers passing, he states, “I was a little distracted because I still had to go up to Emmanuel’s place to borrow a black tie and an armband” (Camus 4). It is shown that Meursault doesn’t care about his mother dying, as he thought getting garments from his friend's house was more important than a significant loss. At Meursault’s trial for killing an Arab, he is asked if he loved his mother and exclaims, “Yes, the same as anyone” (Camus 67). He likens his feelings for his mother the same as a stranger, concluding that he doesn’t understand the difference or is not experiencing motherly