absurdist theory. The reader also then based from this foundation of mersault’s
characteristics can indulge in this aspect of Camus’ absurdism and form their own
opinion on whether or not life is meaningless regardless of the inevitable end result.
Mersaults sexual politics can be compared to that of Raymond – in reference to his
‘girlfriend’. Raymond is conflicted in sexual politics where he continues to assert
himself above his ‘girlfriend’, suggesting that he may actually be her pimp. To further
illustrate such sexual politics Raymond says: “It was clear that she was cheating
[working for other pimps] on me. So I left her. But first I smacked her around. And
then I told her exactly what I thought of her. I told her that all she was interested in
was getting into the sack." Of which Mersault later comments: “He’d beaten her till
she bled. […] What bothered him was that he "still had sexual feelings for her."
Raymond materialized his ‘girlfriend’ in the sense that she is an object of ownership
and with this possession over her he attempts enforce his authority through
chauvinistic force. This allows the reader to develop their own opinion on sexual
politics and how men and women should or should not differ. This form of
materialisation links to the theme of sexual politics, and such “sexual feelings” link to
the theme of the importance of the physical world.
Solely sexual feelings towards characters can suggest materialism in the relationship,
and furthermore emphasis on simply physical details also suggests materialism, and
sequentially linking to the theme of the importance of the physical world. Mersault
narrates: “Marie came over as we’d planned. I wanted her so bad when I saw her in
that pretty red-and-white striped dress and leather sandals. You could make out the
shape of her firm breasts, and her tan made her face look like a flower. […] […] I
kissed her. We didn’t say anything more from that point on. I held her to me and we
hurried to catch a bus, get back, go to my place, and throw ourselves onto my bed.
[…] […] She was wearing a pair of my pajamas with the sleeves rolled up. When she
laughed I wanted her again. A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it
didn't mean anything but that I didn't think so. She looked sad. But as we were fixing
lunch, and for no apparent reason, she laughed in such a way that I kissed her.”
Clearly Meursault’s attitude toward and interest in Marie is primarily sexual. Mersault
sees Maria materialistically, a sexual object and nothing more, his worldly description
of her gives the reader further insight into the theme of the importance of the physical
world. Of which, the physical world resonates over any other aspects of human life
such as social and emotional.
Such sexual materialism of women is quite common in Mersaults relationship with
Maria it suggests that in their relationship Mersault believes physical elements reside
above all others. Even during a visit when he is in prison physical elements are the
most important - “Marie shouted to me that I had to have hope. I said, "Yes." I was
looking at her as she said it and I wanted to squeeze her shoulders through her dress. I
wanted to feel the thin material and I didn’t really know what else I had to hope for
other than that.” Maria could be a nameless woman for all that it mattered to
Mersault, since all he likes about her are her physical attributes. This also contributes
to the reader’s insight into the theme of the importance of the physical world, but to
do so through the materialization of Maria it does not need to be sexual.
Materialization can evidently link to themes of a text in many ways, one of which that
has not been touched on is the physical “closeness” of each other and more simply the
non-sexual physical details of women. “Together again, Marie and I swam out a
ways, and we felt a closeness as we moved in unison and were happy.” narrates
Mersault. Again only paying attention to the physical details Mersault takes note of
the detail in the women’s aprons but not to his mother’s casket. Mersault has no
relationship with these women apart from the fact that he knew they lived in the same
home as his mum, yet still his focus is the physical detail and nothing else. This lack
of emothion shown towards both his mother during her funeral and Marie during what
would have been a romantic moment only further asserts the link that materialization
of women in relationships links to themes; such as the importance of the physical
world.
Furthermore still, it is not just Marie that is materialized as we have already seen, but
in this case Mersault materializes women in general as sexual objects. During prison
it is not verbal or emotional support Mersault is comforted by it is the physical
elements of women. Mersault “never thought specifically of Marie. But [he] thought
so much about a woman, about woman, about all the ones [he] had known, about all
the circumstances in which [he] had enjoyed them, that [his] cell would be filled with
their faces and crowded with [his] desires.” Undoubtedly Mersault has materialized
these women (of whom he had been in relationships with prior) as objects of sex and
chose these physical elements over those of social or emotional linking to the theme
of the importance of the physical world. All of the above situations allow for the
reader to develop their own ideas on the theme and to further understand Camus’ take
which is clearly that physical elements of life come before any other.
Marie though does not see relationships the way Mersault does and yet surprisingly
asks him to marry her, to which Mersault replies “it didn’t make a difference to me
[him]”. The idea that things sometimes happen for no reason, and that events
sometimes have no meaning such as this is linking to the theme of the irrationality of
the universe. “That evening Marie came by to see me and asked me if I wanted to
marry her. I said it didn’t make any difference to me and that we could if she wanted
to. Then she wanted to know if I loved her. I answered the same way I had the last
time, that it didn’t mean anything but that I probably didn’t love her. "So why marry
me, then?" she said. I explained to her that it didn’t really matter and that if she
wanted to, we could get married. […] Then she pointed out that marriage was a
serious thing. I said, No.” Unmistakably Mersault is succumbed by emotional in
difference and hence his characteristics are founded by materialism. His relationship
with Marie leads to developing the theme of irrationality in the universe as he says
that marriage a largely significant event would not “make any difference to me [him]”
just as Camus would argue through absurdism.
The way that relationships and the materialisation of women in these relationships can
be used to gain insight into the themes into a text is evident in Camus’ The Stranger.
The reason that something like this is done is because everyone can relate to it in one
way or another. And because everyone can relate in different ways this is a good tool
as it allows for the audience to develop individually in reference to the themes of the
text. Instead of simply explaining the themes and their own thoughts on them
relationships are used to convey this and it is tools like this that make literature more
interesting.
