The Stranger

In Part 2 Chapter 2 of The Stranger, what would be the overall theme/message in the chapter?

The Stranger by Albert Camus

Part 2 Chapter 2

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I think that Meursault's existential angst is really illustrated in chapter 2. Over the course of the second chapter the reader is introduced to the minute-to-minute details of Meursault's life on a regular Saturday and Sunday. We see the two patterns of life on non-workdays that Meursault has through our first glimpse of what his life is like on an ordinary day as opposed to the days surrounding his mother's funeral. The tone however of the chapter does not differ greatly from the first chapter which did focus on the funeral. This sameness is very important when considering the message which Camus is attempting to present through the character of Meursault. The tone we note in both chapters is indifference. As we discussed in the first chapter analysis, Meursault is largely more concerned with his physical comfort, the physical environment, and character observations than with the emotional baggage normally accompanying death or the behavior expected by society. Seeing as Meursault is indifferent to the death of his own mother, perhaps we should not be surprised that he is largely indifferent in his daily life as well.