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This paper focuses on one theme of The Stranger: the apparently senseless unpremeditated murder by Meursault, the main character.
On the manifest level, Meursault is the innocent victim of a merciless fate. But, I will try to indicate that his acts were unconsciously motivated, and that he seized upon certain events to act out his conflict.
Meursault, an office worker, had just attended the funeral of his elderly mother who died in a nursing home. Considerable emphasis is placed on the fact that he had not even visited her while alive, and was not capable of experiencing any grief daring the funeral services or the wake. The day after the funeral, he spends the day with Marie, a former office worker. With great detail, Camus describes Meursault meeting her at the beach. They go swimming, and while lying on a floating raft in the blistering North African sun, Meursault nestles his head in the concavity of her belly while she laughingly caresses him.
Shortly thereafter, Meursault and his girlfriend are invited to spend a day at the beach cottage of Raymond, a neighbor who occupies the same apartment house. Raymond has been having an affair with an Arab girl whom he repeatedly beats up because, allegedly, she has been unfaithful to him. The Arab brothers of the girl would revenge themselves on Raymond for his brutal treatment of their sister. Shortly after the noon meal, they go for a stroll, and suddenly come across the Arab brothers. Raymond attempts to provoke a fight with the Arabs who hold back in a kind of passive defiance. After a brief skirmish, the Arabs run off and Raymond and his friends return to the cottage.
Thus far, Meursault has played a relatively passive role. But then Camus skilfully brings his violent unconscious conflicts into play. As soon as they get back to the cottage, Meursault returns to the beach by himself.