In some novels, even the tiniest common objects are matters of great importance and symbolism; after all, symbolism that adds meaning to the text that cannot be overlooked. In Albert Camus' work The Stranger, outerwear holds great importance throughout the text and expresses social situations, particularly the main character Meursault's rejection of social constructs. Clothing is usually a constant within society and represents normality, as it is uniform. Although clothes can be found in many shapes, colors and sizes, the social expectations that come with wearing these garments do not waver. However, Meursault is unable to conform to understanding the meaning of particular clothing in specific situations due to his rejection of social constructs, and this mindset would not allow him to follow an authentic and spiritually fulfilled life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One character that Meursault spends a significant amount of time with during the first half of The Stranger is Marie, his love interest. However, it becomes clear that this relationship with Marie is nothing more than a superficial, lust-filled relationship from Meursault's point of view. This superficial, lust-filled attraction that Meursault develops for Marie is particularly shown through Meursault's continued descriptions of Marie's outerwear. When Marie and Meursault meet to go to the beach, the first description given is: “I really wanted to sleep with her because she was wearing a beautiful red and white striped dress and leather sandals” (p.31). The focus here is not on Marie herself as a person, but on her outward appearance. She is objectified and carefully examined: the only sense of emotion the reader receives is the lust Meursault feels when he observes her. Marie is a sensual delight here, her clothes are the main aspect that caught the attention of the main character. Furthermore, the tone of this statement is one of indifference: Meursault does not refer to Marie as pretty, but to the dress she is wearing. Meursault here emotionally detaches himself from his love interest, rejecting social constructs. It is also important to place emphasis on the color of Marie's dress; it is red and white, made of colors that contrast deeply with each other. Red is the color of sensuality, sexual desire, while white represents innocence and purity. The dress can be interpreted to represent the social norm of relationships and love: a balanced blend of sexual desire and pure emotions, something that Meursault finds very fascinating. However there is also the implication that Meursault wishes to undress Marie as if he wanted to "sleep with her" (p.31), indirectly showing that he wishes to break away from the social constructs implemented on Marie and take her in her rawest form, devoid of any construct . Marie plays society here: she conforms to the relationship norm by genuinely caring for Meursault and wanting a real, loving relationship. However, it is clear that Meursault has opposite intentions in mind and openly refuses to have a deep emotional connection with someone of the opposite sex. This focus is a rejection of the inauthentic life brought about by social constructs, something Meursault does not want to experience. Furthermore, formal clothing is often mentioned in The Stranger, and Meursault often feels out of place in formal circumstances, further reinforcing his sense of alienation from society and their normal customs. Meursault attends his mother's funeral in the preamble of The Stranger,surprising others with his emotionless response to his death. But it is not only this that demonstrates his rejection of social constructions, but also his discomfort in dressing in black for the funeral: “I felt a bit strange because I had to go up to Emmanuel's house to borrow a black tie andarmband” (page 3). Meursault once again pays close attention to the clothes that other people at the funeral are wearing (which correlates with his great interest in Marie's clothes), noting that "there were four men in the room dressed in black" (p. 12). It is once again that the individuals themselves do not matter, only the social constructions they wear. The specific colors and shades worn by individuals are continually emphasized by the main character, as Meursault even states: “I felt a little lost standing between the blue and white of the sky and the relentless darkness of these other colors: the sticky black . of boiling tar, the opaque black of mourning clothes, the shiny black of the hearse” (p.15). The color black brings a sense of uniformity and persistence, qualities that seem inauthentic and leave an individual devoid of any individuality. This is what Meursault tries to avoid, as he does not want to conform to the social constructions of this French society. The consonance used in this statement draws more attention to the color, along with the hard “ck” in the term black, adding meaning to the image produced. The contrast between the light sky and the dark clothing should also be noted as it intensifies the feeling of loss that Meursault feels at the funeral. Furthermore, Meursault feels “warm in (his) black clothes” (p. 13), further expressing the discomfort felt by this character and challenging French social mores, which do not coordinate with the climate of a colonized country. Meursault continues to reject the formal outerwear that every individual is required to wear due to his or her inability to conform to the social constructs established by society. Although he tries to follow society's rules, his attempts are ultimately futile. One moment when Meursault feels most at ease, however, is when he swims with Marie. The descriptions given here are lighter and the images softer, “the late afternoon sun” is not “very hot” and the water is “warm, with lazy waves, long and shallow” (p.31). Here a contrast with other scenes is immediately generated because the sun is not extremely hot and unpleasant, but rather relaxing and warming. Also, Marie and Meursault are not constrained in their clothes in these scenes, which has an immediate effect on Meursault. He appears to be happier in this scene, as the tone of this passage is lighter and more playful. Furthermore, a lot of movement is included in the scene, particularly of the water as the two characters play with it, the foam spraying towards the sky and then falling on their faces “like warm rain” (p.31). The simile establishes a pleasant image, as the rain is neither too hot nor too cold, and is light in its movement. It can be seen here that Meursault is most comfortable when he is not wrapped or surrounded by masses of clothing. The images and use of color recall the characteristics of an essay written by Albert Camus, Summer in Algiers, as in both works great emphasis is placed on color and movement. Summer in Algiers depicts the simple and authentic life of individuals in Algiers, something that Meursault attempts to achieve. This is why such great parallels in description, content, and style can be found between the two, as Meursault strives to live authentically without the burden of social constructs. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now...