The second theme that is said to play a significant role in Mersault's exile is the theme of retrieval. Throughout the whole story, Mersault never seems to retrieve anything, and never really changes in any way. Mersault does seem to "retrieve" something when he re-connects with a past crush the day after the funeral. However, it is difficult to consider this retrieval, as Mersault never indicated it to be so; never had he mention missing this woman or wishing he could see her again. He just happens to run into Marie Cardona at the beach and spends the day with her going swimming, seeing a movie, and spending the night at his house with her. Mersault just seemed to be looking for a good time, not trying to find someone to replace his mother, or help him cope with the situation at hand. He just continues on with life, completely unmoved and unchanged by the passing of his mother. .
Mersault seems to maintains the same attitude towards everything that happens in the story, the "I don't care or believe in much" type attitude. One example that shows Mersault's indifferent attitude was after he was arrested for shooting the Arab 5 times. One would assume that after murdering another human being, there would be a lot of guilt or remorse, but not inside the mind of Mersault. He barely even thinks about the actual murder that much the whole time he is in prison. He did mention how he did not like the predicament he was in and was looking to return to his prior life, but still did he never mention feeling sorry for the murder.
A day or so before Mersault is to be killed, a Chaplin comes in to try and reform him to Christianity. The Chaplin asks him if he believes in God. "But he cut me off and urged me on one last time, drawing himself up to his full height and asked me if I believed in God. I said no. He sat down indignantly. He said it was impossible; all men believed in God, even those who have turned their backs on him.
