The stranger essay

Exploring the language in The Stranger
-how the "simple" language makes the reader think Meursault is a simple character, but he is not. (translators note)

He's a man who does not care about love, prison, or death...does this seem like a simple man?

Using the language as evidence, is Meursault a simple or complicated character?

Translator's Note applied to text

Meursault is a stranger to the norm of society. He is an outsider, seemingly distanced from any emotional contact. However, a seemingly clear situation can be easily disguised by what seems different. In Meursault's case, he appears to be a man without a conscious who is detached from emotion. Even when his mother died, he appeard to be indifferent to the circumstance. "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." Although Meursault acts like he does not care about his mother's death, this is not the case. In fact, Meursault is an extremely complicated man; nevertheless, he can not effectively communicate his emotions, which is why he is such a confusing character. Consider one of his conversations with Marie. "A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn't mean anything but that I didn't think so. She looked said." Normally, it is justified to consider Meursault as a simple man, considering detached response to Marie. However, his complexity is masked by his inability to communicate his emotions. The numerous pauses are not blank spaces in his head, they are filled with emotion and opinions, yet, Meausault's "problem" causes him to be unable to convey these feelings.

How writing style fits attitude

Meursault's short and decisive sentences reveals his own detachment from the outside world. In fact, even under the tragic circumstance of his mothers death, Meursault seems to not even care. "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know." His sentence structure demonstrates his unemotional attitude. If he had a normal reaction, he would react in a more emotional way filled with more description of the event. However, Meursault speaks in a "simple" style, not even aware of when his mother died. This seemly uninterested style effectively illustrates his apparent detachment.