Journal #3-The Stranger

Motifs:


"The sky was green; I felt good. But I went straight home because I wanted to boil myself some potatoes." (Camus, 26)I think Camus uses the motif of pleasure to show how it overpowers the emotion of Mersault. Once he feels something good, he immediately wants something better or more pleasure.

"I smoked a couple of cigarettes, went inside to get a piece of chocolate, and went back to the window to eat it. Soon after that,the sky grew dark and I thought we were in for a summer storm. Gradually, though, it cleared up again. But the passing clouds had left a hint of rain hanging over the street,which made it look darker. I sat there for a long time and watched the sky."(Camus, 22-23) I think Camus uses the motif of smoking to show the absence of chaos, where everything in the book is completely calm and relaxed.

"But the whole beach, throbbing in the sun, was pressing on my back."(Camus, 58) I think Camus is using the motif of the sun to show Mersault's fear of unhappiness, he starts thinking of the sun every time he is in a fearful situation and he fears he might not be happy.