Journal #2

Option 1:

Albert Camus use of the sun highlights part of the reason why Meursault ultimately ends up killing the Arab. The sun beats down on Meursault and causes him pain so that's partially why he kills the Arab. Camus throughout the novel gives the sun a negative connotation. The sun is bright. In contrast, Meursault is a dull character. The sun helps to highlight Meursault's going against society's norm. Life for Meursault is different than others, so the sun for him is not a positive thing. It brings him suffering and causes him to act out of anger and made stupid decisions. The glaring light on Meursault's body is the breaking point for him, "The scorching blade slashed at my eyelashes and stabbed at my stinging eyes. That's when everything began to reel" (59). The sun, bright light, and glare lead to Meursault's pulling of the trigger on the Arab. This did not help Meursault to achieve happiness, "Then I fired four more times at the motionless body[...] And it was like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness" (59). Temporary pleasure does not counter the lifelong consequences which illuminates that making decisions out of angry does not typically end well.