The Stranger questions PDF

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Questions of the plot of The Stranger...

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Kayla Harris The Stranger Questions 1. How is Salamano and his dog’s relationship significant to the novel? Is this relationship a metaphor for an absurdist view of life? Why or why not? Salamano and his dog’s relationship is significant to the novel because it resembles Mersault’s relationship with his mother. For example, Salamano yells at his dog and abuses the dog; in conclusion, Salamano and his dog have an estranged relationship similar to Mersaults and his mothers. When Salamano loses his dog, he is upset because the routineness of having his dog is gone. A part of his life is missing; this is similar to Mersault losing his mother. Later in the novel, he reveals the slightest remorse of his mother's death as people are questioning him for his trial. Although Mersault is a borderline sociopath and does not feel guilt for mundane traumatic events, he moves on with his life like Salamano does without his dog. This relationship is a metaphor for an absurdist view of life through the abuse and how Mersault perceives Salamano’s actions as morally and ethically justified. He does not stand up or refute Salamano’s actions or yelling towards his dog. He agrees the dog in a sense deserves the punishment. 2. Is Mersault’s relationship with Marie meaningful? With his Maman? With Raymond? Why or why not? Mersualt’s relationship with Marie is meaningful because she challenges him and opens his mind to love and marriage. At the beginning of the novel, his personality is aloof, private, and emotionless. However, once Marie is more present in the novel, he begins to find her beautiful and willing to marry her. The relationship with his Maman is estranged. He put her in a home, forgot her age, did not cry on the news of her death, and was more focused on work to visit her.

In the novel, he mentioned how they become accustomed to not speaking; this relationship appears toxic and unloving. Their relationship confirms why and how Mersault reacts to traumatic events. Raymond forced Mersault into becoming friends in a manipulative way. If Raymond were never involved, Mersault would not have shot the Arab and been sentenced to death. Raymond persuaded Mersualt’s mind with horrible actions, such as writing a letter to his “girlfriend” to humiliate her. Mersault fueled Raymond’s evil behaviors and tendencies. However, their relationship gave insight into Mersualt’s characteristics. 3. Is the jail a symbol for something bigger in the novel? Is the jail a comparison to life (just waiting to die)? The jail is a symbol of the routineness of life until death. Mersault reflects on his time in jail and states how he reminiscences seeing Marie and thinking like a free man. He then transitions to the prison life mentality of confinement and isolation. Prison life is similar to life in the sense of obtaining a routine schedule such as work and leisure activities. The difference is prison restrains leisure activities; for example, as a free man, Mersault enjoyed the beach and walks. In prison, he enjoys the walks in his tedious schedule. In the middle of his jail time, Mersault looks forward to seeing Marie again, to be free again, and as time passes in prison, he comes to terms with his sentencing. In the end, Mersault is sentenced to death, so metaphorically and literally jail is a direct comparison to waiting for death. 4. Can religion and existentialism coexist? How does this dichotomy play out in the novel? Existentialism expresses individuals as free and responsible for their actions through their will. Religion is worshiping a higher authority figure and living in gratitude and purpose for their god. Existentialist can be religious, but I do not believe they live for their god. In this novel,

Mersault is an existentialist who does not believe in God. This is proven in his conversation with the investigator who becomes outraged of his nonexistent beliefs. He also mentions his mother held very minimal religious beliefs and noted how her friends at the home said she wanted to be buried next to the church. This complex dichotomy is elicited in the novel through the characters because of their different beliefs; it is a back and forth motion between religion and existentialism. This is most highlighted in the interrogation room and during the trial. For example, the prosecutor's elicits existentialism because he blames Mersault for his actions, his own free will, but revealed religious motives through his diction such as “shameful” to that of a higher figure. In court, they also brought in his religious beliefs and how that perpetrated his soul and character. On his death sentence, Mersault and the chaplain talk about life after death, and he states he does not want to “waste” his remaining time thinking about God. He becomes enraged about the topic of God, yet he contemplates God in some of his last moments. 5. Does Mersault’s death sentence lead him to have (or understand) emotions? Mersault’s death sentence clarifies his emotions. He becomes more aware of how life as a free man was more desirable and enjoyable compared to isolation. He mentioned how he might consider marrying Marie, and how he looked back on their memories together. Overall, he was more appreciative of his past life before he shot the Arab and ended up in prison. On his death sentence, he emotionally breaks from the conversation between him and the chaplain of God and has accepted his fate a long time ago. Mersault struggled with comprehending emotion throughout the novel and thus at the end of his life, he is more aware of understanding emotions....