1. Meursault is a Frenchman living in Algeria; of what importance is this fact? 2. Describe the wake and the funeral of Meursault’s mother, detailing Meursault’s reactions and impressions. 3. The sun is a complex symbol in this novel. Describe the dual role that it plays, noting particularly the role […]
Read more Study Help Essay QuestionsCritical Essay Camus and the Absurd
To enter into the literary world of Albert Camus, one must realize, first off, that one is dealing with an author who does not believe in God. Major characters in Camus’ fiction, therefore, can probably be expected either to disbelieve or to wrestle with the problem of belief. One’s first […]
Read more Critical Essay Camus and the AbsurdCharacter Analysis Raymond
Even before we see Raymond in action, we can infer a great deal about his personality. He is short and thick-set and has a flattened nose. He wears flashy clothes, but his room is unclean and the walls are covered by pinup pictures. His reputation as a pimp never is […]
Read more Character Analysis RaymondCharacter Analysis Marie
The few clues that we have about Marie’s personality come from Meursault, but he is not given to analyzing himself or other people and so we know little other than that she seems, basically, an uncomplicated middle-class young woman. She wants marriage, children, enjoys casual sex, swimming, movies, and outings […]
Read more Character Analysis MarieCharacter Analysis Meursault
Because so much time has been spent throughout the discussion of this novel analyzing Meursault’s character, there is little elaboration that would be more than speculation. Basically, one should remember that Meursault is a man who will not lie about himself, a man who cannot accept the formulas by which […]
Read more Character Analysis MeursaultSummary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter V
At the beginning of this chapter, Meursault very briefly notes that he has refused to see the prison chaplain for the third time; then he dismisses the subject as quickly as he dismissed the chaplain and turns to another subject. He speaks of hope. There has been an element of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter VSummary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter IV
Camus has altered the tone of his narrative slowly as Meursault has, after a fashion, somewhat adjusted to prison life and is now on trial for his life. In Part One, Meursault reacted either positively or negatively or was confused by questions and decisions that he alone could answer or […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter IVSummary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter III
Because of Meursault’s ability to cope with the usual boredom that accompanies imprisonment, he tells us early in this chapter that, in truth, the eleven months he spent in his cell did not pass slowly. He adds that as his trial approaches, another summer has come. Almost a year has […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter IIISummary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter II
Chapter I of Part Two focused on Meursault’s changing relationship with the magistrate and with the lawyer, and with his own attitude toward himself during the eleven months of the legal conferences. Chapter II takes those same eleven months and reveals what Meursault did when he was not being interrogated. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter IISummary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter I
The first chapter of Part Two is narrated in Meursault’s frequent matter-of-fact tone, describing his first interrogation by police officials. At first, he says, nobody seemed to have much interest in his case. Interestingly, this attitude is, more or less, how Meursault views the matter. He is not deeply concerned […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter I