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The mistranslation of The Stranger’s opening line misshapes how we see Meursault.

“Aujourd’hui, maman est morte.” Mother died today should actually be Mommy, Mom or a more warm and endearing term.

With Mother, we immediately see Meursault as cold and detached from the first line.

https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/lost-in-translat...

Thanks! This clears up for me why Meursault is often said to be based on Camus himself(0). (Although, does it not convey a sense that Meursault is childlike, more than emotionally warm?)

(0)As mentioned, for example, in https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/55062/the-first-m...

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