Topic > Women's Contribution to Meursault's Enlightenment in The Stranger end of the novel. Ultimately, Meursault embraces the inherent meaninglessness of life and discovers a personal form of humanism by finally feeling a connected part of the world with those around him all being in the same boat as him, embracing their hatred towards him and his indifference realizing he too hates it and loses his loneliness as a "foreigner". Mom seems to be enlightened too, she probably went through the same process at some point. Mom had the wisdom to live a full life, making lifelong friends, as demonstrated by Thomas Perez's determination to pay his respects at her funeral, and accepting another loan to start over, even as she neared the end of her life. life, feeling “free then and ready to live again” (123). as Meursault understands. However, it is assumed that Marie does not achieve enlightenment, as she still retains hope and searches for meaning where there is none, with her “painful smile” (67). visit him in prison and sadness at Meursault's indifference towards marriage. Marie does not recognize and accept or deal with the indifference of the world as Meursault does or as Maman seems to do, and so Marie does not reach enlightenment and ultimately loses all importance. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. Both of these women contributed to Meursault's enlightenment on some level. Mother is one of the few people in the novel who seems happy to Meursault. The funeral attendees' loyalty and grief over Maman's death and her liveliness later in life convey to Meursault that it is possible to live a joyful, happy, and meaningful life. Meursault simply does not recognize or understand how it was possible to live a life like Maman's until his final epiphany, in which Maman's life would serve as a model for the experiences Meursault hoped to gain if he had the chance. Marie, on the other hand, despite appearing happy, independent, and carefree on the surface, is dissatisfied with Meursault's persistent indifference towards her beyond superficially enjoying his company and their sexual encounters. Meursault is willing to marry if Marie wishes, but tells her "no" (31). when asked if he loves her. Meursault states that “it didn't really matter one way or the other” (31). Marie is nevertheless devoted to Meursault, and this devotion is her determination to "remain hopeful" (55). They just make her unhappy. Visiting him in the face of his execution, searching for justice and meaning where there is none, is indicative that Marie is stuck in the same unenlightened rut that Meursault is only in a different way, still searching for inherent meaning and justice in an effortless world of achieving fulfillment, happiness and understanding, without ever finding any. Marie is of no help to Meursault, because he already knows that there is no point, purpose, or intrinsic justice, and therefore no meaning in the world has already come to this conclusion, and yet it is This is why Marie faded from the attention of Meursault at the end of his time in prison, nearing his final realization, Marie offered Meursault no answers in his search for "enlightenment". Surprisingly, even though all these women were central to the narrative plot. , he is an extremely minor character, not enlightened differently due to his contented ignorance, the..