Throughout the novel imagery and symbolism plays a major role in capturing the true essence
of a human being under pressure. The sun on the beach is a reoccurring symbol within the The Stranger. It drives him to act upon things that are unusual and life threatening, as a result killing an innocent Arab. The novel also reveals a sense of urgency, and can be represented through the repeated hot weather. A comparison between the sun and the waves of the ocean exposes the main character's vulnerability and personality.
Meursault's lifestyle is chaotic because is subjected to not knowing how to control his actions. We can see this throughout recklessness in killing the Arab shows that he is not human and the nature around him makes him different. However, he feels a new sense of pride and dignity when he is with his mistress. When he is not with her, he resorts to nonchalance life in which he does not care about anything. While he does not care about anything, he does not consider the many consequences that may hurt him in the future. In fact, he completely disregards them, as shown on the beach. As he is on the beach standing over the Arab, the sun is beating down on his face. The hot light from the sun acts as the drive that pushes him to killing the Arab because it reflects from him, and the rays from the sun represent the rays of his actions that sprout out from him.
The sun, the source of life, is constantly irritating Meursault as he is about to kill the Arab. His agitation with the sun shows his hatred towards life, or at least his irritation with it. He does not necessarily despise life but he doesn't care whether or not he is alive. This is why the hot sun beating down on his face represents the truth and the fact that he is alive and he should be living; however, he doesn't appreciate the sun. Instead, he does not like it and runs away in the shade of unhappiness as he murdered the Arab. He doesn't care about life, which is shown through his lack of consideration at his own mother's funeral. When she died, the sun was beating down real hot. That represents how no matter what, he cannot escape the sun. The sun, representing truth and reality, is hitting him hard, yet he does not see that he can use it as a light to see rather than something to hide from.
It's easy for Meursault to settle for less than the best because he believes that he can settle for anything. Instead of striving and struggling to achieve ambitious goals, he just goes with the flow. The sun reminds us of this because no matter how much light is on him, he is still unable to see. Instead of seeing with the sun, he allows it to blind him from seeing right decisions and making wise choices in life.
His death is the result of his carelessness and unwillingness to be optimistic about life and use the sun, which represents hope and the future, to its fullest potential. When he runs away from the sun, he is eventually going to die because he needs the sun to live, physically and mentally. It is a source of enlightenment that he constantly ignores throughout the entire novel. He is not a religious person, which is why he gets so defensive when the priest comes and talks to him at the end. The priest is the sun that tried to shine light on him before he passed away; it was his last test, which he failed, and which is why he had to die in the end. He refused to accept this light of help. His ignorance and the way he does not know how to treat women, his mistress for example, makes him suffer the consequences of a future death. Because he does not care so much, he is hidden in the darkness while the sun is beating down on everyone around him. He cannot face the facts because he does not know that he is even wrong for taking life for granted. He is taking the source of energy and wisdom for granted and not even seeing that it is there to help guide him. All his actions and decisions are based off of the reflections of others, which is why the sun is beating down on him hard at the beach; it is trying to reveal the truth, but he cannot seem to see it. He is too blind by the same sun that cannot seem to guide him.
In summation, The Stranger is a novel that depicts the life of a man who is too blind to see reality. He is brightened by the sun, but cannot even see that he is being enlightened. Albert Camus does this on purpose to show that no matter what, there is always a light. The sun, which represents this light, is in focus. However, it is up to the person and individual to make the right choices with this sunlight. Meursault, who ignores this brightness, ends in a failure of life and a death. Camus' repetition of the symbol is not only creative, but also impacting since it really contradicts Meursault's life. The author shows the world that no matter what situation one is in, they must accept the light and use it to guide themselves rather than stare right into it and get blinded.
