The Stranger Man and the Natural World Quotes Page 8
Citations follow this format: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph). We used Matthew Ward's translation, published by Vintage International published in 1989.
| Quote #22 It was two o’clock in the afternoon, and this time his office was filled with sunlight barely softened by a flimsy curtain. It was very hot. (2.1.7) |
By this point, we know that hot weather is never a good sign for Meursault. Tension is built in this scene simply because of our previous associations between the sun and Meursault’s mood.
| Quote #23 Then he said, "Why did you pause between the first and second shot?" Once again I could see the red sand and feel the burning of the sun on my forehead. (2.1.9) |
This is yet another instance of Meursault’s belief that his actions are dictated by his physical surroundings.
| Quote #24 To tell the truth, I had found it very hard to follow his reasoning, first because I was hot and there were big flies in his office that kept landing on my face […]. (2.1.10) |
Meursault loses concentration and other cognitive abilities once the weather gets hot.
