The Stranger Sun

In The Stranger, Camus uniquely uses the sun by portraying the sun as a symbol for feelings and emotions which Meursault cannot control. The sun becomes an amplifier for feelings of anxiety and passiveness which Meursault feels because of the environment in which he lives in. Relating to the death of the Arab, the sun shows a direct influence to Meursault’s actions and impel him to act on inclination and draw his gun on the Arab. Camus uses the sun to present a barrier between Meursault and the warmth of emotions he never seems to feel, although it also attacks him and agitates his emotions even further to a degree beyond control
The first of many tribulations that the sun brings forth to Meursault starts with his mother’s funeral procession. …show more content…
But the whole beach, pulsing with heat, was pressing on my back.” as Meursault sees the arab rise up and reach for his pocket, Meursault gripps Raymond’s gun, upon seeing this the arab refrains any further confrontation and sits back down. Meursault holds his stance and the same heat scorches his cheeks as sweat dribbles down his forehead, “I had the same disagreeable sensations—especially in my forehead, where all the veins seemed to be bursting through the skin.” (Camus 38) The sun infiltrates Meursault's thoughts and emotions causing build up of anxiety which Meursault cannot control, he knows it’s an irrational response but with his thoughts in dismay his reactions fall accordingly with his emotions which are influenced by the antagonizing sun.
In prison Meursault gains a new perspective on the sun and his life. To Meursault the sun first appeared harsh and inhuman. Later, the sun as if almost took over and pressured Meursault to kill a man. In prison Meursault realizes that he infact is happy with his life and content with how he has live it, he infact sees the sun as being friendly and warm, something of which Meursault would have never have said before. The sun symbolized a barrier between Meursault and …show more content…
Meursault always had mental freedom but realizes that physical freedom is what he misses and being part of society is something he enjoyed.
The story begins with Meursault and a dim, light beam of the sun, this small light tries to penetrate through his cold emotionless exterior, as the novel progresses, the sun intensifies on Meursault invoking reactions and emotions he does not like . This does not lead to an emotional breakthrough as one might hope but instead an emotional breakdown, the anger and frustration is too much and ultimately he is overpowered by it’s taunt causing Meursault the loss of his own freedom and life only to gain a deeper understanding of himself and a new adulation towards the