Book Summary

The Stranger is about a man named Meursault. In the begining of the book his mother who he, had put in an old folks home, dies and he takes time off work to go to the funeral. At the funeral Meursaukt is asked if he wants to see his mothers body but says that he would rather not. Over the entire course of the funeral Meursault doesn't seem to have much emotion or feeling reguarding his mothers death. After the funeral Meursault goes swimming at a beach were he runs into t former co-worker named Marie. The two become close and start seeing each other throughout the rest of the book. After Meursault's weekend is over he returns to work on monday where his boss offers him a promotion. His lack of enthusiasm angers his boss however and it is left at that. He later runs into Salamano and his dog in the all of his building and has dinner with another neighbor, Raymond, and they become friends after Raymond asks Meursault for advice about his mistress who has been cheating on him. the next time Meursault and Marie see each other she asks him whether Meursault loves her or not. Meursault does not show much excitment over the issue and says it doesn't really matter but most likely that he doesn't. After they discuss this the two are lured out into the hall by Raymond and his mistress who are fighting and cause the police to come. Again Marie bring up the subject of love by asking Meursault if he wants to marry her which he replies by telling her that he will but it doesn't really matter. in the end Marie decides that she does want to marry him. One weekend the two accompany Raymond to Masson and his wifes beach house. While there Raymond gets in a fight with his mistress's brother, the Arab, who Meursault later shoots on the beach killing him which is the turning point of the book. Meursault is arrested and the authorities are puzzled by his lack of care and concern for the man he killed for no aparent reason. Meursaults love for his mother is made into a major topic along with his belief in god. While in jail Marie visits him and tries to be happy and confident that he will be aquited. On the day of the trial it is made obvious that the trial has become a major news headline and the courtroom is filed with people and press. Meursaukt's lack of emotion lead to his sentence death by beheading. Back in his cell the only thing Meursault can think about is his escape from death and how he doesn't want to die. Finally in the book as Meursault is being take to his death he realizes how pointless human life is and yells it out curssing human existance.