Add Smile to the Motif Pile

In The Stranger, Albert Camus forms the idea of life having no purpose due to the fact of inevitable death. The novel leaves readers with a rather negative out look, however the story discloses small breaks from the pessimistic outlook. Camus uses a motif of smiling to show the contrast between Meursault and the rest of the human race. He is able to form a character who is seemingly pushed out of society due to his paradoxical point of views.

Through out the novel, Camus encompasses concepts of death, heat, and sleep through Meursault's variety of behavior. From his thoughts and actions, it can be inferred that Meursault, more often than not, holds a somber expression on his face.

Camus is able to use this to create an clear image of the contrasting point of views of Meursault from, what seems like, the rest of humanity. He does this by introducing the repetition of smiling. A smile is generally considered a reaction to express emotions of happiness and contentment. Camus has spent the whole novel building a character who is the complete opposite of this concept. Therefore, when he introduces this motif, the distinction is apparent.

This idea is first proposed when Marie goes to visit Meursault in prison. While talking, Camus provides a direct comparison between the couple.

"I was feeling a little sick and I'd have liked to leave. The noise was getting painful. But on the other hand, I wanted to make the most of Marie's being there. I don't know how much time went by. Marie told me about her job and she never stopped smiling" (75). 

Meursault is more focused on his comfort level and his surrounding than Marie sitting right in front of him. He mentions how he didn't want to waste both of their time before Camus introduced the smile. "She never stopped smiling," is a direct contrast from Meursault's melancholy mood while he is simply sitting there. He is finally getting a break from his dull daily routine and getting to see the girl he used to spend time with. But instead he finds himself being irritated by his atmosphere.

This passage mentions the verb "smiling" five more times before ending chapter two, of part two with, Meursault back in his cell looking at himself in his tin plate. Pensive, he thinks,

"My reflection seemed to remain serious even though I was trying to smile at it. I moved the plate around in front of me. I smiled and it still had the same sad, stern expression"(81). 

With this mention of smiling, Camus reveals another level to Meursault's complex personality. Here he is attempting to explore what seems to be the opposite of his usual self. His attempt at producing something seen as pleasant result in him just proving himself right.

Throughout the end of chapter two, part two, Camus intelligently wove the motif of a smile into his writing to be able to not only reaffirm what we already knew of Meursault, but further add a level to the complexity to him. Camus' skillfully written passage allows the contrast of Meursault's routinely somber face and Marie's smile to construct a seemingly new side of Meursault. He knows how he feels is different than how he should. He knows that even though death is inevitable, he should still have moments in life where not everything is so forlorn. Even when he tries to conform to how everyone else thinks and force a smile, he cannot seem to operate so fabricated and factitious. It's not who is is.