Journal #2: Describe Meursault's actions/activities. How do you respond to Meursault's activities? Why would Camus create a protagonist like Meursault- what is he trying to accomplish?

Meursault's actions may be interesting, but it's his thoughts while doing these actions that are more interesting. Or, rather, lack of thought. The Stranger is written in first person point of view, so one is able to read the protagonist's thoughts. But the story may as well be written in a narrator's point of view, one whom is very distant from the protagonist, because we get such a limited idea of Merusault's thoughts. He may just not think much. All that is said, basically, is the action he is doing. The most in-depth discussion is that he's hot and sweaty. He acts disconnected from his situation, and he thinks disconnected as well. Chapter 2 highlights this, because he sits and watches the street all day, which is about as disconnected as you can get. Camus is tying to convey the philosophy of existentialism- how there is no higher power and the only fate in a person's life depends on the decisions they make. It is life without meaning. Meursault's life certainly seems meaningless, even his affairs lack passion.