Without a doubt, the first impression Camus’ work is a disorienting one to say the least. Set in Algiers, the novel opens on the focus character Meursault and the inner dialogue he has with himself regarding the recent death of his mother. This stream-of-consciousness style of writing is one that takes some time to get acclimated to, and easily leads to some of the stranger moments in the first three chapters.
The strangest thing we learn through Meursault’s train of thought is his apparent indifference towards the death of his mother. As the story progresses, it is revealed that not only did Meursault’s mother die around the relatively low age of 60, but also that Meursault isn’t even sure of his own mother’s age. From the discontempt for his mother’s closest friend to the diffidence he feels during the memorial service, it is clear that Meursault’s mother may very well be a stranger to him.
It is true that Meursault's mother seemed to be a stranger to him, but what about the factors of his childhood (there is no mention of a father so it may be reasonable to assume his mother may have been his only parent) or the fact his mother was dying which Meursault doesn't seem to want to except seeing as he doesn't want to open his mothers casket and look at her. Also what about the fact his mother seemed to be distant from Meursault? Meursault mentions that when his mother lived with him all she would do was watch him with her eyes. Did the mother herself play a factor in Meursault's distance, or is it just how Meursault approaches the situation that makes it seem like they are distant? Could it just be grief, that he may not want to admit? Maybe Meursault is a pyschopath, unable to feel empathy? Although it is true that Meursault seems to be a stranger from his mother, I feel as though there is a deeper issue around, or foreshadowed by, the death that prevents Meursault from being extremely emotional over situations and may help explain his latter actions.
ReplyDeleteThe disconnect between Meursault and his mother is jarring. When I was reading I wondered if their frayed relationship was a result of something he or his mother did or just a result of Meursault's detached personality. Since the book begins with his mother's death, it makes me think she is an important factor in how Meursault got to be this way.
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