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Meursault Recieve's a Telegram Pg. 1
Meursault learns of his mother's death, but does not seem phased, or even curious about the details, like the day of her death. Because this is early in the novel, the reader is unsure if his lack of emotion is just a form of his grieving process, or something deeper within his personality. Soon, however the reader discovers through his poor understanding of social ques and inability to act "normally" withing society, that there is more to Meursault than just grief for his mother. -
Speaking to the pallbearer at Maman's funeral
While they are on their journey to bury Maman, a pallbeaerer comments on how hot the weather is, to which Meursault responds "yes." The pallbearer then asks Meursault how old his mother was, to which he responds with "fairly." This shows an important part of Meursault's character, where he seems to focus more on his physical being and surroundings rather than the emotional or mental impact of the things. He shows he is bothered by the heat, but doesn't even know the age of his own mother. -
Meursault speaks to his Boss about Maman Pg. 3
After Maman's funeral, where "really, nothing had changed", Meursault tells his boss that she was "about sixty" because he didn't know her true age even after her funeral. After, Meursault questions why the fact that Maman was old relieves his boss. His response to the funeral and the conversation reveal the absurdity with which Meursault views the world. Her death and age are irrelevant because to him it was it was bound to happen anyway. The world around him means very little to him. -
Salamano speaks about Maman
Salamano tells Meursault that he must miss his mother very much. Meursault responds with silence. Salamano then says despite the neighboorhood looking down on Meursault decision to send Maman to a home, he knows Meursault and understands that he really loves Maman. This shows a large contrast between how society vilifies Meursault, and how Salamano seems to truly understand who Meursault is. It also shows how Meursault's silence doesn't equate to apathy, because Salamano seems to understand him. -
Meursault's lacking reaction to Maman's death is brought up in his trial. Page 90
Trivial details denoting Meursault's insensitivity toward's his mother and her death become a major focus of his trial. Even the fact that he had coffee and smoked by his mother's body was used to demonize him. This offers a unique perspective of how society views Meursault's relationship with his mother, because his behavior on the day of Maman's funeral is discussed as much as his murder, showing society's rejection of his indifference towards Maman. This may affect readers' perception of him. -
Meursault thinks of Maman in the nursing home while in his cell. Page 122
While awaiting his execution in his cell, Meursault says that he thinks of his mother for the first time in a long while. He thinks of how she had started a new life in her nursing home before her own death, and this makes him not only understand his own mother better, but also gain a new perspective of the value and the joys of life. It is through this brief mention of Maman in the context of his own approaching death that Meursault seems to have rethought his own notions of the value of life.
