Meursault's Apathy

A character’s personality and attitude greatly affects others’ perceptions of himself, and thus affects events that occur in the novel. In The Stranger, Albert Camus alienates Meursault and thus influences later events through his characterization. The protagonist does not feel much grief or mourning when his mother passes away. He remains detached from everyone else and pays them little mind. Also, he considers relationships with other people quite worthless, including those with his mother and lover. Meursault’s apathy for his mother’s death, isolation and indifference to others, and disregard for interpersonal relationships negatively and unjustly impact his trial. Meursault is a stoic character and does not react to his mother’s death as most people would. He does not express grief or remorse and overcomes what little reaction he has very quickly. "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don 't know. I got a telegram from the home: "Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours." That doesn 't mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday," (Camus 3). Upon receiving word of his mother’s passing, Meursault is missive about the message and analyzes the time

Meursault’s apathy for his mother’s death, isolation and indifference to others, and disregard for interpersonal relationships negatively impact his trial and eventually bring his demise. His character traits make him into a cold, heartless man, which serves as the basis for the prosecutor’s argument during the trial. Meursault is repeatedly condemned for showing no emotion and feeling no remorse, both for the death of this mother and killing someone. His detached attitude leads him to make little effort to defend himself in the court. His neglect of relationships with his mother provides testament for the prosecution that he is a monster. In the end, Meursault is given the death penalty by the jury. The Stranger illustrates perhaps the harshest outcome that could come about due to a character’s