Mary Castillo
Professor Francev
English 104
September 28, 2017
To Be Moral or Not To Be
The Stranger by Albert Camus portrays the dilemma of whether a man can be ethical and
moral while still being an absurdist. Camus creates multiple situations that cause moral and
ethical dilemmas, such as the death of Meursault’s Maman, the relationship between Meursault
and Marie, as well as the relationship between Meursault and Raymond, then finally ending with
the murder of the Arab. Camus puts Meursault’s through these trials to show how a man teeters
between moral and immoral, ethical and unethical.
The first time Meursault’s ethical and moral views are called into question is when
Maman dies. It’s not the matter of how Maman dies, but more on Meursault reaction. The
relationship between Maman and Meursault is nearly nonexistent, “Maman died today. Or
yesterday maybe, I don’t know,” (Camus 3). This is the first sentence of the novel and it already
shows the type of relationship that Meursault had with his Maman. It also leaves a sense of
discomfort as Meursault really doesn’t know when his Maman died and his tone about when she
died is almost nonchalant, as though it were of no significance. When Meursault is later asked if
he would like to see his Maman in her casket, he tells the caretaker no and when the caretaker
asks why, he responds with “I don’t know,” (6). This is pivotal because as soon as Meursault
arrived he “wanted to see Maman right away,” (4). The change in Meursault wanting to see his
Maman “is not abnormal for a person to decline seeing a departed relative,”[however]”it”is”
uncommon”for”the”person”to”have”no”understanding”of”his”or”her”own”actions,””(Alonzo”98).”
Meursault”doesn’t”understand”why”he”doesn’t”want”to”see”Maman,”especially”when”he”only”
wanted”to”see”her”as”soon”as”he”arrived.”This”can”possibly”portray”him”as”unethical”and”immoral”
since”he”isn’t”sure”why”he”doesn’t”want”to”see”Maman”and”that”he”knows”he”doesn’t”want”to”
see”her.”“
Although”Meursault”can”be”perceived”as”unethical”and”immoral”due”to”his”estranged”
relationship”with”Maman,”it”can”be”argued”that”his”relationship”with”her”was”fairly”decent“
considering”their”situation.”At”the”beginning”of”Maman’s”funeral,”Meursault”knew”that”Maman”
enjoyed”the”home”and”“would”have”cried”if”she’d”been”taken”out,””(Camus”5).”He”also”knew”
that”“Maman”had”never”in”her”life”given”a”thought”to”religion,””when”he”was”told”that”Maman”
requested”a”religious”burial”(6).””Camus’”purpose”in”having”Meursault”recall”his”mother’s”
religious”interests”and”her”level”of”enjoyment”on”where”she”lives”is”to”show”that”he”is”a”caring”
