Before leaving the office to go to lunch, I washed my hands. I really like doing this at lunchtime. I don't enjoy it so much in the evening, because the roller towel you use is soaked through: one towel has to last all day. I mentioned it once to my boss. He told me he was sorry but it was really a minor detail. (The Stranger, Part One, p. 25) Which of the following themes is best represented by the excerpt? denial family duty guilt the absurd

Question

Haylie Riley

English

26 May, 14:55

Before leaving the office to go to lunch, I washed my hands. I really like doing this at lunchtime. I don't enjoy it so much in the evening, because the roller towel you use is soaked through: one towel has to last all day. I mentioned it once to my boss. He told me he was sorry but it was really a minor detail. (The Stranger, Part One, p. 25) Which of the following themes is best represented by the excerpt? denial family duty guilt the absurd

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Enrique Bush · Answer 1

the absurd

This detail about handwashing and the roller towel is absurd. This is not an important detail just like the boss says. It's an absurd thing to be organizing his day around and telling the reader about. However, the detail does add to the characterization of the narrator. There is no denial happening in this little anecdote about handwashing. There is also no duty or guilt. He doesn't seem to feel any duty towards anything and he's certainly not feeling guilty, nor is the boss.