The Stranger Literary Analysis Essay

Culturally and socially we base our actions and reaction to situations from what’s acceptable. The Stranger By: Albert Camus takes place in French Algeria in the 1940’s. At this point in time, they were recovering from the war which left the government broken and corrupted, not that it was all that good before the war. People like Meursault and Raymond don’t have to worry about authority figures because they see themselves as equals and above the law. This plays towards the idea of corruption, mainly in the sense of law. Since this is how the world is structured for the people in Algeria they don’t have a sense of consequences. Which means it’s hard for them to see what’s right or wrong and in this case to find meaning in anything.
Meursault's detachment during his mother's vigil and the funeral was represented in court and drove the prosecutor's case. At Maman’s funeral, Meursault is asked if his mother was old and he didn’t know the
The boys (including Ray’s friend-Masson)walk along the beach-recognizing that approaching them are the two Arabs seen earlier in the novel. They quickly make a play on how to handle the situation and they’re in control until one of the Arabs pulls out a knife, “ ‘Look out he’s got a knife!’ but Raymond's arm had already been cut and his mouth slashed.’ (54) The trio quickly retreats. This consequence is actually carried on from what happens with the mistress and represents that a punishment can be continued or dragged out. Once the consequences’ punishment is realized it’s often that people become reflective and absurdity kicks in. Meursault is quick on his feet, though. It’s very likely as soon as he recognizes the drawbacks or his situation he soon remembers that regardless of the role he has played in this world something would have led him somewhere and after death, none of it matter to him or anyone