The Stranger Quotes

English

The Stranger

Albert Camus - explores themes of absurdism and existentialism centered around a man named Meursault who is emotionally detached from society, commits a murder and faces trial for both his crimes and his indifference to the world, ultimately sentenced to the guillotine.

“Maman died today. Or Yesterday maybe, I don’t know.”

Opening line - immediately established themes of absurdism and existentialism and Meurault’s emotional detachment

“Since we’re all going to die, it’s obvious that when and where doesn’t matter.”

While Meursault is in jail, waiting to be brought to the guillotine for his crimes - absurdism and meaninglessness of life

“I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate.”

Last line of the book - (situational irony) one does not usually expect to want to feel hated, represents acceptance of society’s rejection and the end of his life

“I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world”

Towards the end of the book while Meursault is waiting to be executed - full acceptance of the absurdity of life and his peace with it

“If you go slowly, you risk getting sunstroke. If you go too fast, you work up a sweat and catch a chill inside the church.”

The nurse gives advice to Meursault during the procession of his mother’s funeral - paradoxical nature of life = meaningless, if there was a benevolent God then we should exist in a world where man was meant to thrive

Meursault finds Marie and has fun with her while he is still wearing the clothes to mourn his dead mother

Life doesn’t stop because of death

“I felt a little lost between the blue and white of the sky and the monotony of the colors around me”

During the procession of his mother’s funeral - juxtaposition = nature doesn’t care about grief so it must not matter, if grief doesn’t matter then life must not matter

“It occurred to me that anyway one more sunday was over, that Maman was buried now, that I was going back to work, and that, really, nothing had changed.”

EPIPHANY

Listed Maman’s burial in the middle of benign items = meaninglessness of life, something changed (mom’s dead) but seen as nothing changed in the grand scheme of things *God of Small Things tie (Big Things v. Small Things)

“A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didnt mean anything but that I didnt think so.”

Conversation with Marie

Disengagement with world and others

Outwardly rejecting history of love being worth dying for

“I realized he was crying. For some reason I thought of Maman. But I had to get up early the next morning.”

Having a conversation with his neighbor who lost his dog who he abuses - use of non-sequiturs = meaningless life shown through lack of logical progression

“I remembered that I had killed a man”

Meursault is going to jail - so detached hasn’t realized he is a murderer

“It was the same sun, the same light still shining on the same sand as before.” …. “anchored in a sea of molten lead”

Right before Meursault kills the Arab - repetition of s sound = slipping from reality and present state of being

Describes the day as standing still - oppressive heat is blamed for him murdering the Arab