3rd Paragraph

A life without a purpose matches the emptiness of prison.  Prison works perfectly for Meursault.  He has no goals he needs to accomplish, and nothing that he enjoys doing outside of prison.  He is merely living his life, and waiting for the day he dies.

2nd Paragraph

Meursault contains no emotional feelings, but he does have physical desires.  He feels no love for her, but he does have a physical lust because of her beauty.  When Marie asked if they would eventually marry, Meursault responded "It didn't make any difference to me"(50).  Because Meursault can satisfy his physical desires with her already, marriage would not change anything.  Even though he says this, Marie stays with him.  She must feel attached which contrast with Meursault.

1st Paragraph

Most people care about their family at least a little bit.  Although there are some exceptions.  Meursault does not care about anyone or have any feelings about anyone including his mother.  At his own mother's funeral he was more bothered by the heat than her death.  (Quote). He didn't even remember her own age.  After the funeral, Meursault showed no emotions.  He fully realized that he would never see his mother agin, but his detachment from everyone caused him to not care.  The next day, life was back to normal.  Without any feelings of depression from the previous day's funeral, Meursault starts having an affair with a woman.

Introduction

Most people have goals they desire to accomplish in their lives.  Meursault is an exception.  Throughout the The Stranger, Meursault shows little emotion, and he does not show any care for anything.   He does not have any love for anyone, and he has no goals in his life.  Meursault merely moves through life without thinking and does what is natural.  Life is meaningless for him.  Meursault seems to accept the emptiness of his life, and he does have any purpose.

Outline

Meursault seems to accept the emptiness of his life, and he does have any purpose.

Paragraph 1:  meursault does not care about anyone.  He is more bothered by the heat than his mother's death.

Paragraph 2:  meursault does not care about what happens to him.  He is just as happy to be in prison.  Because he has no goals he wants to accomplish, the fact that he is in prison does not bother him.

The Stranger Essay

Is Meursault happy with his detachment? Does he live without a purpose?

Meursault is detached from everyone else in the world.  He does not show emotions even when his mother died.  Although his life seems to be empty on the surface, there is a deeper meaning in his life.  He is content with living his life without a goal or purpose.  He changes throughout the novel, but the overall emptiness in his life remains the same.  He does not show any feelings toward anyone in the novel.

Translator's Note

Meursault appears simple though the short and concise sentences, but he is actually a complex man.  He may be hiding his emotions or pretending he does not have any.  When Marie asked him of he loved her he responded "it didn't mean anything but (he) didn't thnk so" (44).  He claims that he has no love for her, but he also says that his lack of love does not even matter.  Meursault believes Marie should not care that he does not love her.  He describes her reactions with the simple statement "she looked sad" (44).