Discussion of the sun in the Albert Camus novel "The Stranger".

The sun is a powerful and all too-often overlooked symbol in many novels. It is

usually seen as a guiding light in the dark or as hope in times of despair. In the Albert

Camus story, The Stranger, the sun represents a new element. Camus, a very

unconventional thinker, twisted the common meaning of the sun into a painful image. The

sun is on constant vigil of Meursault?s every action. Ironically, the bright light of the sun

clouds his thoughts and judgment. The sun is personified to represent society, which

throughout the story frustrates, angers and eventually takes control over Meursault?s life.

With the opening of the book, Meursault is faced with the death of his mother. He

must attend the overnight vigil of her body the day before her burial. The next day,

Meursault is to walk her body to her gravesite, accompanied by the priest and others

assisting in the burial.

English: Edinburgh band, Meursault.

Albert Camus' tombstone in Lourmarin

Raymond Queneau escribe en Twitter

Along his long walk to the church, Meursault takes notice to the

overbearing heat of the sun. The heat is so incredible that his mind is diluted with nothing

but thoughts over how unbearable the sun is. He forgets all about the reason why he is

walking in the heat in the first place. While walking, the nurse says to Meursault, ?If you

go slowly, you risk getting sunstroke. But if you go too fast, you work up a sweat and

then catch a chill inside the church?(p. 17). He reflects upon this and says, ?She was right.

There was no way out?(p. 17). The observation of his is not over the sun but over what it

represents. The sun is society to Meursault, and if you stick with society by walking slow,

you are going to get overwhelmed by it. This contrasts with walking fast,