Albert Camus' work of fiction, The Stranger, explores the life of a Frenchman known as Meursault after the death of his mother from old age. Meursault does not feel grief for his mother's death because he believes that it is unnecessary since he, as well as Camus himself, is an atheist and existentialist. As such, he is not concerned with traditional emotions and beliefs, but only with the physical world around him and his physical interactions with it. This is best illustrated by comparing the opening paragraph of the novel, “Mama died today.” Or maybe yesterday, I don't know. I received a telegram from the home: “Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours. It doesn't mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday. to the uncomfortable heat he complains about throughout the first chapter. Upon learning of his mother's death, Meursault shows no emotion regarding her death. Instead, he's more concerned that the telegram doesn't tell him exactly when it happened. Once arriving home, Meursault then becomes concerned about the extreme heat which causes...