The Stranger By Albert Camus Religion Essay

A question that I came across on the first chapter of The Stranger, by Albert Camus was What is the significance of Meursault's mother funeral being religious, even though she never truly cared about religion? I specifically remember Meursault mentioning that the guy at the funeral home had a religious funeral setup, however, his mother never truly cared about religion. Did the funeral home decide the arrangements of the funeral or was it discussed by other people? If Meursault didn’t think a religious ceremony represented his mother, then why didn’t he say something towards the director?
The thought of death is often scary and never truly gets brought up, unless someone just recently passed away or is passing away. When Meursault walks into the room with his mother’s casket and sees the casket taped up and closed, he freaks out. It’s almost as if he can’t wrap his head around the idea of his mother's death. By the caretaker rushing in asking if Meursault wants to see his mother, he automatically says no. Meursault seems to be shutting down and thinking of the past in which his mother was alive during the time. Seeing the casket makes Meursault think of the thoughts that he is
trying to avoid. If Meursault did decide to see his mother in the casket, would this affect the way he felt in regards to being able to live on his life, instead of wishing he could see her one more time? It’s almost as if he did decide to see her in casket, it’s closure to know that the person he raised and grew up with has passed, but now it’s his turn to carry on her legacy.
Another question I had was regarding the character, Meursault, he always seems to have a negative attitude towards things. My question was how does his negative attitude impact his daily life and how can it impact his future? An example from within the text was at work his boss offered him a new position, but he didn’t want to take it because he said it was all the same. Another example was when Marie asked Meursault if he would want to marry her and his response was “It makes no difference” to him. By Meursault having a negative attitude towards daily things, could soon affect his relationships with others and cause things to end in a negative situation.
A quote that I found to be significant was about Meursault’s mother's friends who were coming down for the vigil. He had never met any of them before, but seeing her friends seemed to be something that never left him. “ I saw them more clearly than I have ever seen anyone, and not one detail of their faces or their clothes escaped me,” (Camus 9). I found this quote significant because after seeing his mother’s friend’s he will never be able to get them out of his mind. The idea of their faces or clothes never escaping is exaggerated to pull the reader in and question why these things will never escape him. I think the idea of seeing his mother’s friend’s makes him feel as if a part of his mother is still left.
Another quote that I found to be significant was with Meursault sitting outside admiring the sky while eating chocolate cake.
His mother and him lived in the same apartment and therefore after her death, there seemed to be more space in the apartment. “But the passing clouds had left a hint of rain hanging over the street, which made it look darker. I sat there for a long time and watched the sky,” (Camus 23). I thought this quote really resembled how Meursault was feeling especially during such a dark time. In the section, “Passing clouds had left a hint of rain hanging over the street,” I think the passing clouds represents him trying to get through the difficult times, and that “Hint of rain hanging over the street,” is the idea of his mom's death and how it will always be a part of
him.
A quote that I really liked was when Meursault was talking to his boss and talked about how people never change their lives. “I said that people never change their lives, that in any case one life was as good as another and that I wasn’t dissatisfied with mine at all,” (Camus 41). I strongly disagree with this sentence because people often do change their lives either for the better or for the worse it is up to them. Also, not every life is a good as another, everyone lives a different life and experiences different adventures throughout their lifetime.
The last quote that I found to be significant was during Raymond and Meursault walk down the beach. The sun was beaming, the air was hot, and stiff and all Meursault kept thinking was negative thoughts. “ I went with him as far as the bungalow, and he climbed the wooden steps, I just stood there at the bottom, my head ringing from the sun, unable to face the effort it would take to climb the wooden staircase and face the women again,” (Camus 57). Meursault doesn’t have the drive or will to keep going, he is “unable to face the effort…” This quote is significant in that is shows Meursault giving up and thinking of the things that are bringing him down, such as his head ringing from the sun, and doubting himself to climb up the wooden staircase.
Overall, Meursault is a very interesting character and this is a very interesting book in that the reader really has to think about how Meursault is feeling. His thoughts and actions can change quickly and often times it could either be for the better or the worse.