Part One: Indifference to Death and Love
- Chapter 1: The Death of the Mother
- The novel opens with a telegram announcing the death of Meursault’s mother, a young man living in Algiers. Meursault takes the bus to Marengo, where the asylum where his mother resided is located.
- During the journey, Meursault does not show any particular emotion. He describes the landscapes and physical sensations (heat, sleep) with a detached precision.
- At the asylum, he meets the director, then contemplates his mother’s coffin. He does not want to see it open. He spends the night awake, smoking and drinking coffee. He notices and describes the faces and behaviors of the people present (his mother’s friends) with a cold analytical eye.
- The next day, Meursault attends the funeral under an oppressive sun. The intense heat and physical fatigue affect him more than sadness. He is relieved when the ceremony is over.
- Chapter 2: Return to Algiers and Daily Life
- Back in Algiers, Meursault resumes his life. He swims in the sea and begins a relationship with Marie Cardona, a former colleague.
- Their relationship is primarily physical and based on attraction. Meursault does not talk about love, but appreciates Marie’s company and the pleasure they share.
- He attends a comedy at the cinema with Marie and spends the night with her.
- Chapter 3: Neighbors and Encounters
- Meursault becomes friends with his neighbor Raymond Sintès, a violent and shady man who lives off women. Raymond asks Meursault to write a letter to lure his former mistress in order to take revenge on her.
- Meursault accepts without hesitation, although he knows Raymond’s violent nature. He is passive and indifferent to the consequences of his actions.
- Another neighbor, Salamano, is an old man who lives with his mangy dog that he insults and beats regularly, but to whom he is deeply attached. When the dog escapes, Salamano is desperate, which seems to touch Meursault in a superficial way.
- Chapter 4: Raymond’s Plan and the Weekend at the Beach
- Raymond puts his plan into action: he lures his former mistress to his house and beats her. Meursault testifies in favor of Raymond to the police, minimizing the facts.
- Raymond, Meursault, and Marie are invited to spend a weekend in a cabin by the sea belonging to a friend of Raymond, Masson.
- Chapter 5: Tension Rises at the Beach
- At the beach, they meet the Arabs, including the brother of Raymond’s former mistress. A fight breaks out between Raymond and the Arabs. Raymond is injured.
- Raymond is treated and returns to the beach. Meursault, meanwhile, feels overwhelmed by the heat and sunlight.
- Chapter 6: The Murder
- Meursault returns to the beach alone. He again crosses paths with the Arab who had injured Raymond. The heat of the sun becomes unbearable, almost making him delirious.
- The Arab pulls out a knife. Meursault, blinded by the light and overwhelmed by intense physical sensation, takes Raymond’s revolver and shoots. He shoots once, then four more times into the inert body.
Part Two: The Trial and Confrontation with the Absurd
- Chapter 1: Arrest and Imprisonment
- Meursault is arrested and imprisoned. He is questioned by an investigating judge.
- Meursault struggles to understand the questions and expectations of the justice system. He feels no remorse and does not understand why he should.
- Chapter 2: Life in Prison
- Meursault adapts to life in prison, although he misses freedom and contact with Marie. He spends his time sleeping and remembering.
- He becomes aware of the time passing slowly and the absurdity of his situation.
- Chapter 3: Preparing for the Trial
- His lawyer visits him and advises him to simulate feelings of remorse to improve his chances at trial. Meursault refuses to lie and adopt emotions he does not feel.
- Chapter 4: The Trial: The Death of the Mother at the Heart of the Accusation
- The trial begins. The prosecution focuses less on the murder itself than on Meursault’s behavior at his mother’s funeral. His lack of emotion, his apparent indifference, are used to portray him as an insensitive monster.
- The testimonies of the asylum employees and neighbors Salamano and Raymond are used to reinforce this negative image of Meursault.
- Chapter 5: The Verdict and Revolt
- The prosecutor delivers a scathing indictment, portraying Meursault as a threat to society.
- Meursault is sentenced to death by beheading in a public square. He is surprised and dismayed by the verdict.
- Chapter 6: The Encounter with the Chaplain and Acceptance of the Absurd
- In his cell, Meursault receives a visit from a chaplain who tries to convince him to turn to God and hope for eternal life.
- Meursault revolts against the chaplain and rejects all forms of religion or hope. He realizes the absurdity of the human condition and the indifference of the universe.
- He becomes aware that, like everyone else, he is condemned to die and that nothing has ultimate meaning. This realization brings him a kind of peace and liberation.
- He expresses the wish that, on the day of his execution, a crowd of spectators welcomes him with cries of hatred. This ultimate provocation is a form of affirming his own existence and individuality in the face of the absurdity of the world.
Key Themes:
- The Absurd: The lack of meaning in human existence and the indifference of the universe.
- Indifference: Meursault’s inability to feel the emotions expected by society.
- Revolt: Refusal to conform to social and religious norms.
- Freedom: Affirmation of one’s own existence in the face of the absurdity of the world.
- Death: Awareness of mortality and the finitude of human existence.