The Stranger - The Stranger 3 - Meursault's Detachment

In this section of The Stranger, Meursault continues to show his detachment from the world. When Meursault kills the Arab, instead of the text saying outright that Meursault shot him, it is written that "The trigger gave" (59). This description of the murder implies that Meursault did not feel like a conscious part of the action. Another showing of indifference is when Meursault tells how he "Then fired four more times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace" (59). Shooting someone when they are already dead is simply overkill and is a peculiar action. This peculiarity is addressed when the magistrate asks Meursault "Why did you pause between the first and second shot?" and  "Why did you shoot a body that was on the ground?" and Meursault simply cannot answer these questions (67-68). Meursault is also detached from reality by not realizing the severity of what he has done. Meursault considers his case to be "pretty simple" (63). Not realizing the complexity of killing a man is a very unusual thing. Meursault doesn't even have it on his mind most of the time for he was about to shake the magistrates hand when he "remembered that [he] had killed a man", as if it were a complete afterthought (64). He states that the idea of being viewed as a criminal "[is] an idea [he] [can't] get used to" (70). Another detachment is in the form of how the narration goes from the scene of the murder to the magistrate without speaking at all about what happens in between. What happened with the party? Are Meursault and Marie still together? These facts must not seem to be important to Meursault as he tells this story, for they have been left out.