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Maman's Death (p. 1)
"Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know."
This shows that Meursault, even in the face of an often life-changing event, remains composed and impervious. He is essentially undaunted by life and continues to care about himself and his day-to-day life, as established by his brief thoughts regarding his mother followed by thoughts of the weather and his job. -
Meursault doesn't want to see his mother
Before I do, would you like to see your mother one last time?
No.
Meursault is not a sentimental man. Whether he cannot emotionally deal with seeing his mom or finds no value with seeing his mother's corpse, we do not know. But either way, he doesn't want to see her, and shows no emotion toward the subject. p.13 -
Guilt (p. 20)
"I felt like telling her it wasn't my fault... it didn't mean anything. You always feel a little guilty." It is apparent here that Meursault feels guilt and a pang of responsibility for the death of his mother, despite that he seems unaffected previously nor did he cause her death. -
Mom's Age
Meursault doesn't even know the age of his mother. This shows his lack of respect or friendship with people who should be close to him. -
Maman reminds Meursault to be thankful
Mersault is in jail, and he is thankful for life in general. His mom instilled in him an attitude of grattitiude at a young age, saying that there is always reason to be grateful.(113) -
Explanation for Putting Maman in the Home
"Nor did they pay any more attention to Salamano ... when ... he said that Maman and I had very little in common and that explained why I’d fixed up for her to enter the Home." According to Salamano, Meursault and his mom didn't have a lot in common which in turn is why he just got rid of her by putting her into the Home. This shows how Meursault only cares about his own interests. Since he personally didn't have anything in common with his mom, he didn't see a use for her so he sent her off. -
Enlightenment
At the very end of the book Meursault identifies with Maman and realizes why at the very end of her life she wanted to live it all again. He sheds his negative outlook on life and apathy for nearly everything and believes should he have had the option, he'd want to live it all again too. p. 122
