He couldn’t have been happy about that. But, in the first place, it isn’t my fault if they buried Mman yesterday instead of today, and second, I would have had Saturday and Sunday off anyway. Obviously that still doesn’t keep me from understanding my boss’s point of view (19).
Over the course of the first few chapters of the stranger, Albert Camus describe the many conflicts Monsieur Meursault faces. His boss is not happy that he will be getting two days off of work, which turns into a four days off. These four days he is “off” will be spent at the funeral of his own mother. This is not a vacation but a time of sorrow. The time he gets off should be given to him no questions asked, and with no problems. This was not the case in Monsieur Meursault’s situation. In his situation, he also feels bad after needing to take the time off. He may feel this way because he is disconnected from his mother, but there is no reason to feel like he shouldn’t get time off. He is concerned with how his boss feels, but should be focusing on his grief and mother’s funeral.
Yea, this in particular is weird. He's not worried about having to interact with other people after his mother died, rather he is concerned that his boss will be displeased that he has to take time off work. This really depicts how disoriented this man's priorities are.
ReplyDeleteAnother way to look at it is that Meursault has been relieved of the responsibility of his mother for the past few years. Him constantly apologizing could represent him feeling responsibility rushing back.
ReplyDeleteI agree, we know he his very disconnected with his mother and has very little emotion relating to her death but when he asks for two days of work he seem to care more for his bosses needs than his mothers funeral.
ReplyDeleteI agree, we know he his very disconnected with his mother and has very little emotion relating to her death but when he asks for two days of work he seem to care more for his bosses needs than his mothers funeral.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post and I would bravely have to sum up Meursaults character as someone who's very lost as to what emotions to really show at times. He's always either acting strange at events or thinking about how to act in front of others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post and I would bravely have to sum up Meursaults character as someone who's very lost as to what emotions to really show at times. He's always either acting strange at events or thinking about how to act in front of others.
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