The Stranger Journal #1

Ramond Sintes is described as a pimp, who is quite hot headed and often gets into fights because he sees himself as a big tough guy. He comes to play the role of Meursault's "pal", which I'm assuming relates to how people are best friends. In this way he begins to have a stronger influence on Meursault as they grow closer and I think that Sintes' hatred of his ex-girlfriend's Arab brother and friends transfers over to Meursault. With Sintes, I think that Camus is trying to represent the beginning of the change in Meursault's life since they were not "pals" before Meursault's mother passed away, and Sintes now represents the mental change Meursault is going through.

Marie Cardona is introduced as a pretty girl that quickly becomes Meursault's girlfriend. I think her role in the novel is to bring out the Nihilism that is in Meursault. This book was written with many philosophies and I think that Marie is a representation of Nihilism. She continuously asks Meursault if he loves her and then brings up the question of marriage and Meursault replies that it doesn't matter. This implies that he believes love has no real meaning to him and starts to show how he begins to think nothing matters. Also, Marie is a contrast to Meursault. She is always asking him questions and pushing the relationship while Meursault is somewhat lazy in my eyes. This contrast shows Meursault's lack of motivation to do anything which can also connect to Nihilism through Existentialism. Meaning that, in the article we read in class today, it said that when an existentialist realizes that their is no meaning behind their life they often fall into despair or Nihilism.

Salamano is brought in to the novel as a character who rages at his dog that is suffering from Mange. However, through all of his hate it is still clear that he loves his dog because he faithfully walks it twice a day, and when he loses it he becomes quite sad. I think that Salamano serves as a contrast to Meursault because he takes care of his dog even when it is old and difficult to care for and he often comes frusterated with it, which contrasts with how Meursault just moved his mother out when caring for her got too difficult. In making this contrast I think that Camus is trying to emphasize Meursault's lack of emotion, not all emotion, just his feelings of sadness which I think in turn characterizes Meursault.