The Stranger By Albert Camus

In the story “The Stranger” by Albert Camus there are many theme that are shown throughout the whole book. Themes of the books can be absurdity of life, relationships, and indifference and passivity. The main character also known as Meursault is in the heart of all of these themes. From Meursault’s perspective he believes that the world is meaningless, this can be the absurdity of life. Absurdity of life is shown throughout the book. From the beginning from the beginning Meursault thinks that the world is worthless, he discards both religious and secular efforts to find meaning in the world. Meursault shows reject to religion since the beginning, when the director at the old people home tried arranging a religious funeral for Madame Meursault,
This shows absurdity to life because he isn’t open to anything new. And another way is when Marie asked Meursault if he want to marry her, Meursault replies to her saying “it didn’t mean anything” to love a person, but he later agrees to marry Marie just because she want him to marry him. This shows absurdity of life because he doesn’t want to marry her so this can show he doesn’t care about her and in life love is a big part but he doesn’t even care about it. A quote that shows absurdity of life is, “Once we were dressed, she seemed very surprised to see I was wearing a black tie and asked me if I was in mourning. I told her Maman had died. She wanted to know how long ago, so I said, "Yesterday." She gave a little start but didn't say anything. I felt like telling her it wasn't my fault, but I stopped myself because I remembered that I'd already said that to my boss. It didn't mean anything. Besides, you always feel a little guilty.” This shows absurdity of life because it tells us that Meursault has no compassion or feelings, even after his beloved mother died. In addition Absurdity of life is shown all throughout the book, this doesn’t mean relationship isn’t shown throughout the whole
Throughout the whole novel Meursault is not capable to experience deep, complex relationship with people around him and in his life. Meursault’s relationships are all complex, from the loyal relationship he had with his mother to his friendship with Raymond to his passionate relationship he had with Marie were basically all passionless, it was a resolute much more by incidental, artificial impressions than by deep-felt emotional bonds. His actions towards these relationship shows us how he is able to treat people is his life rendering to his own requirements without feeling any sense of duty or loyalty towards them, has no feelings. When he was done talking to his mother about anything he sent her to the old peoples house, he doesn’t care about his neighbor’s opinion about this subject. And when it was his mother vigil he drinks coffee and smokes as usual (he would always do this), not feeling grateful to act differently out of respect he just acted the way he would have if she was still alive. All of these shows relationship because it shows us that he doesn’t have/even know what a real relationship is and it shows that he has no sympathy. “ Gentlemen of the jury, the day after his mother's death, this man was out swimming, starting up a dubious liaison, and going to the movies, a comedy, for laughs. I have nothing further to say.” This is a quote from the book, this shows relationship because it tells us about the