The Stranger Journal #3 (Motifs)

Motifs

Routine
-Quotes: "They haven't changed their route in eight years." (Camus 27)
"I worked hard all week." (camus 34)
"She had positioned herself right next tot he curb and was making her way with incredible speed and assurance, never once swerving or looking around." (Camus 43)

Camus uses the motif of being entrenched in a daily routine. Routines entail lack of change, lack of need for change, and lack of want for change. By putting the motif of routine in the novel, Camus sets up a sense of dissatisfaction with routine, and that routines aren't always the things to follow, because of the later loss of the old man's dog.

Religion
-Quotes: "While not an atheist, Maman had never in her life given a thought to religion." (Camus 6)
names of bible: "Emmanuel, who works as a dispatcher." (Camus 25) "Celeste's dripping with sweat." (Camus 26) "Marie" (Camus all over the place :D)

Meursault doesn't depict any inclinations toward or against religion, but Camus incorporates allusions to biblical things to foreshadow a later revelation that Meursalt may have.

Names
Quotes: "Marie had gone." (Camus 21)
"Maman died today" (Camus 3)
"The old people's home is at Marengo," (Camus 3)
"You see, Monsieur Meursault," (Camus 29)
"Masson tried to make him laugh." (Camus 55)

Camus uses repetition of the letter "M" in peoples name to perhaps create a connection? Also, during the beach trip, there is Masson, Meursault, Marie, and Raymond interacting actively with each other. Raymond breaks the pattern of "M" to perhaps create a disagreement between the "M" people.

Colors
Quotes: "I loocked at him and saw a tall, fine featured man with deep-set blue eyes, a long gray moustache, and lots of think, almost white hair." (Camus 64)