Maman the Gap

How is it possible to write a novel based on the death of a character that is never described in detail? Well, this it exactly what happens in Albert Camus's The Stranger. From the first sentence of the book the reader heres about the death of Maman. I as an audience member, automatically assumed that Maman would be a major part of the book. I was correct in the sense that Maman would make way for the rest of the storyline, but wrong in the sense that Maman and her relationship with her son would be described in detail. 

This is Albert Camus's gap. Until Part II of the text the audience is unclear wether he even had any sort of relationship with Maman, it being bad or good. This lack of information drove me crazy because Maman is constantly being referred to. Questions like: Why didn't he mourn after her death? and Why did he care more about it being Sunday then a the day after his mothers funeral? crashed around in my head. Obviously this led me to believe that he has a terrible relationship with his mom and that he was probably mistreated by her when he was young. Camus gap makes the audience perceive something different from what is truly happening between the lines of the book. 

It is not until the second part of the book that Meursault expresses why he left Maman in the care center. The reason, a good one. He left her there because it would be more comfortable and she would have the chance to make friends and not be bored and stranded with Meursault in his apartment. All the negative thoughts the reader filled the "Maman" gaps with have to be dug up and placed with a sweeter, more positive filling. Still, no other context is given about Maman, so still no clear conclusions can be made about their relationship. 

During the trial the most brought up topic was Meursault and his mother. The beginning of the book starts with his mothers death and then comes the middle of the book which is blank including anything of Maman and the end which is entirely about her. The death penalty is given to Meursault because of his lack f reaction after Maman death, didn't reach the societal standards. This lack of information was necessary for the readers to have because it makes it easier to understand that what many consider societal standards could be just as plain and blank as Maman. There is not enough information to fill in the blanks about persons other than you.