Journal #2

Option 1
I think that the sun is a symbol for the catalyst that sends people over the edge on an emotional level. For example from the text when Raymond hand the gun to Meursault "The sun glinted off Raymond's gun [...]" (pg 56). Although the sun isn't what kills the Arab I think the it set off Meursault and put him into an agitated state so that he did pull the trigger. Even later in the story Meursault says the reason he pulled the trigger was because of the sun. So the sun serves as a symbol for something that is involved with pushing someone over the edge emotionally but doesn't appear as the actual cause. Overall I think the sun develops the theme of how Camus is critical of Meursault because Meursault allows himself to be influenced by petty and insignificant things whereas I think Camus is sending a message the more important matters need to be paid attention too and when they are mistakes are made and lives are lost.