Strange Shifts
This novel was an experience unlike any other, and its writing style played a monumental role in this effect. PART 1 This section of the novel is characterized by a simple, detached, and straightforward style, which fittingly portrays Monsieur Meursault’s indifference to everything and everyone around him. Whether describing events, people, or emotions, he does so without depth or personal insight, treating life as a series of tasks rather than meaningful experiences. Meursault seems to go through the motions of societal expectations, viewing them as a checklist he needs to mark off to pass as “normal” for the day. He’s agreeable with everyone, even if they find his lifestyle unorthodox, suggesting a people-pleasing aspect of his personality. One vivid example of his detachment comes when he learns of his mother’s death: "Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don’t know." Here, his reaction is emotionless, and later, he attends the funeral with almost mechanical precision....