Couldn’t he see, couldn’t he see that? Everybody was privileged. There were only privileged people. The others would all be condemned one day. And he would be condemned, too. What would it matter if he were accused of murder and then executed because he didn’t cry at his mother’s funeral? Salamano’s dog was worth just as much as his wife. The little robot woman was just as guilty as the Parisian woman Masson married, or as Marie, who had wanted me to marry her. What did it matter that Raymond was as much my friend as Céleste, who was worth a lot more than him? What did it matter that Marie now offered her lips to a new Meursault? Couldn’t he, couldn’t this condemned man see

Diction and Repetition: As Meursault is speaking, he embellishes the idea of human equality by using the word "privilege". Meursault states the "everybody [is] privileged," in other words, everyone is born with the same equality: life. Camus is able to convey that life itself is a privilege and that everyone is born with that privilege. In these lines, repetition can also be seen. Camus repeats phrases such as "couldn't he see" and "what did it matter" in order for the reader to understand that it doesn't matter the sin one commits or the person that one is, because at the end everyone is that same. In addition, the phrase "couldn't he see" shows the reader that the chaplain is blind to the truth that Meursault sees. The chaplain relies on his fate of a possible afterlife that may not exist--he is unable to understand Meursault's view on life.

for the first light of this dawn to be vindicated

Symbolism: The "first light of this dawn" symbolizes life. Meursault is at the point in which he's about to die; it won't be until then when his life will be set free and will then disappear. Imprisoned, Meursault is sure that when he is dead, his life will be liberated and will show the meaningless of his life.

a dark wind had been rising toward me from somewhere deep in my future, across years that were still to come, and as it passed, this wind leveled whatever was offered to me

Symbolism: Meursault depicts death as a "dark wind" that has "leveled whatever was offered to [him]." In other words, the knowledge of death in Meursault's life has eliminated everything life had offered him: dreams, goals, feelings, emotions, etc. This explains why Meursault refused to show any type of feeling at his mother's funeral, why he refused to have a serious relationship with Marie, and why he reacts with indifference to the world. The "dark wind" also depicts the loss of hope and the insignificance of life's offerings as death is certain in one's life. For example, one's reputation won't matter at the end because everyone dies.

Nothing, nothing mattered

Allusion: When Meursault states that "Nothing, nothing mattered," Camus is making a direct reference to the philosophy of the absurd or existentialism. These words symbolize the lack of reason in life as human beings have no concrete definition of what life actually is and as all have the same ending: death.

Literary Reference:
When Meursault finds out about his mother's death, he shows no emotion: "'Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.' That doesn't mean anything" (3). This demonstrates that "nothing mattered" at that time since his mother was no longer alive. Meursault's lack of emotion shows that death is something natural and therefore, nothing should matter when it (death) arrives.

When Marie asks Meursault if he loves her, he responds with indifference: "A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn't mean anything but that I didn't think so" (35). This demonstrates once again that "nothing mattered" in terms of love, since it wouldn't matter at the stage of death.

At the beach, after Meursault fires the first bullet, he decides to fire another four: "Then I fired four more times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace. And it was like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness" (59). Meursault "[fires] four more times] to show the inevitability of death and that "nothing mattered" after the first shot. After Meursault had fired the first bullet, he knew that he would be experiencing a life full of "unhappiness"; therefore, the last four shots didn't make a difference since the Arab was already dead.

he was living like a dead man

Simile: Meursault is comparing the chaplain to a dead man as he refuses to accept Meursault's view of life. The chaplain is not enjoying nor living his life to its fullest but focuses on God and awaits for an afterlife that may not exist. In addition, Meursault compares the chaplain to a dead man as he believes in something that is not worth believing on. Why should someone believe in God when everyone dies no matter what he worships? Why should someone believe in the afterlife without even knowing it exists?

Textual Connection:
As Meursault confronts the chaplain he states that "Nothing, nothing mattered" (121). This demonstrates Meursault's belief of life; nothing matters since death always comes to an individual. This point is what the chaplain is not capable of understanding. The chaplain believes that all men find comfort in God and that there's an afterlife after death, however, he doesn't seem to comprehend Meursault's essence of life.

I was pouring out on him everything that was in my heart, cries of anger and cries of joy

Tone/Mood: As Meursault confronts the chaplain his tone finally shifts. For example, throughout part one of The Stranger, the tone appears to be indifferent and without any feeling or emotion. However, at this stage of the passage, after the chaplain tells Meursault that his "heart is blind," Meursault reacts with fury. The chaplain is unable to understand Meursault's thoughts and refuses to accept the meaningless of life. When Meursault pours "cries of anger and cries of joy," one can sense the frustration he's living. Meursault is frustrated since the chaplain is not capable of understanding his view on life yet continues to press his own view (the chaplain's) onto him (Meursault).

Textual Connection:
During the chaplain's visit to Meursault's cell, the chaplain tries to make Meursault believe in God: "But he stopped me...He wanted to talk to me about God again, but I went up to him and made one last attempt to explain to him that I had only a little time left and I didn't want to waste it on God" (120). This shows how the chaplain continues to press his own view onto Meursault without understanding Meursault's view first. The chaplain thinks his view to be "right" and therefore tries to convince Meursault of it.