Marie Cordona Character Analysis in The Stranger

Once a typist in Meursault's office, Marie is young, beautiful, easy going, and openhearted. Her romantic feelings for Meursault seem authentic and she is genuinely discouraged when Meursault confirms he doesn't love her as an individual, that he'd marry any woman like her. Still, she is remarkably resilient and is able to cultivate closeness and happiness with Meursault in spite of his chilly attitudes.

Marie Cordona Quotes in The Stranger

The The Stranger quotes below are all either spoken by Marie Cordona or refer to Marie Cordona. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Meaninglessness of Life and the Absurd Theme Icon

Once we were dressed, she seemed very surprised to see I was wearing a black tie and asked me if I was in mourning. I told her Maman had died. She wanted to know how long ago, so I said, "Yesterday." She gave a little start but didn't say anything. I felt like telling her it wasn't my fault, but I stopped myself because I remembered that I'd already said that to my boss. It didn't mean anything. Besides, you always feel a little guilty.

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 20

Explanation and Analysis:

…[Marie] asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn't mean anything but that I didn't think so. She looked sad.

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 35

Explanation and Analysis:

That evening, Marie came by to see me and asked me if I wanted to marry her. I said it didn't make any difference to me and that we could if she wanted to. Then she wanted to know if I loved her. I answered the same way I had the last time, that it didn't mean anything but that I probably didn't love her. "So why marry me, then?" she said. I explained to her that it didn't really matter and that if she wanted to, we could get married. Besides, she was the one who was doing the asking and all I was saying was yes. Then she pointed out that marriage was a serious thing. I said, "No"...She just wanted to know if I would have accepted the same proposal from another woman, with whom I was involved in the same way. I said, "Sure."

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 41-42

Explanation and Analysis:

Marie Cordona Character Timeline in The Stranger

The timeline below shows where the character Marie Cordona appears in The Stranger. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...is Saturday and Meursault takes the streetcar to the public beach where he runs into Marie Cordona, a former co-worker whom Meursault had "had a thing for." They swim together and... (full context)

When they get dressed after swimming, Marie is startled to see that Meursault is wearing a mourning tie and further shocked to... (full context)

The next Saturday Marie comes over as planned wearing a dress that makes Meursault want her more than ever.... (full context)

They hear a woman screaming and being beaten in Raymond's apartment. When Marie asks Meursault to get the police, Meursault tells her he doesn't like policeman. Another neighbor... (full context)

...Meursault to his beach house that weekend. When Meursault says he already has plans with Marie, Raymond invites Marie too. Raymond then adds that "he'd been followed all day by a... (full context)

That evening, Marie asks Meursault if he wants to marry her. He says it makes no difference to... (full context)

Marie has to go so Meursault eats alone at Céleste's. "A strange little woman" enters and... (full context)

Sunday morning, Meursault, Marie, and Raymond set out for the beach as planned. Meursault notes that he testified at... (full context)

...outskirts of Algiers where Raymond's friend, Masson, has a bungalow with the Parisienne, his wife. Marie and the Parisienne laugh together and Meursault "for the first time…really thought I was going... (full context)

..."sort of waiting for something to happen." From his cell he can see the sea. Marie visits and the two of them sit in the row along with other prisoners and... (full context)

Marie waits at the bars even when Meursault has to walk back to his cell. Soon... (full context)

...looks forward to his lawyer's neckties just as, before prison, he looked forward to holding Marie. "Killing time," he spends hours remembering every object, color, crack, detail in his apartment in... (full context)

...The witnesses are called and the director, the caretaker, Thomas Pérez, Raymond, Masson, Salamano, and Marie "stand up" from the "shapeless mass of spectators…only to disappear." Meursault notices the strange little... (full context)

The defense calls witnesses: Céleste, Marie, Masson, Salamano, and Raymond. Céleste calls Meursault "'a friend'" and has prepared a long-winded defense,... (full context)

After Marie is questioned by Meursault's lawyer, the prosecutor questions Marie. He gets her to describe her... (full context)

One evening, Meursault is thinking about Marie, who has long since stopped writing letters to him. He thinks she might have tired... (full context)

Everything you needfor every book you read.

Everything you need for every book you read.

Everything you need for every book you read.

Marie Cordona Character Analysis

Marie Cordona Quotes in The Stranger

Marie Cordona Character Timeline in The Stranger

Everything you need
for every book you read.