Could Meursault have prevented it?

The Stranger

Chapters 3-4 Part 2 (Pg. 83-107)

Do not wait for the last judgment. It takes place every day.

-Albert Camus

August 30, 2007

5:45 P.M

please indent This section portrays Meursault's trial and sentencing. Keeping in mind the quote above, I came to the conclusion that Meursault's sentence was something waiting to happen. I dare to say that in this section of the novel, Camus is critisizing the way humanity always tries to find rational explanations for acts and people that are out of the ordinary.

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please indent.Meursault is a very out of the ordinary character. Throughout his trial, he showed no remorse, no regret, no sadness, or no emotion whatsoever. Any other human being would try to avoid punishment for their actions, and agree to anything that might yield a chance of getting out of it; even if it includes having to show fake remorse. However, all Meursault seemed to care about were petty details, like "all those people...crowding in to see (83)" him, or the "two large fans" that "started to whir (85)" This lack of emotion was characteristic in his personality, so it shouldn't come as any surprise to the reader; but all the sentences and judgements that the reader created towards Meursault finally condemned him in the story line.

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please indent.If he had shown normal (what society considers normal anyways) human instinct, then Meursault might have not received the death penalty. Had he connected somewhat with the jury, the judges, and the spectators, then they might have pitied him some and let him live. However, he is everything but normal, and society cannot accept different. We condemn everything and everyone that doesn't follow the trends, fashions, and/or "correct" values and morals. We expect everyone to be just like us, if not close to it; and if you're not, at least appear to be. Anything different or out of the ordinary would set a dangerous precedent that could endanger the basic foundations on which society lays.

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please indentAlthough in theory Meursault is guilty of murder, Camus is trying to show the reader a reality which is all too deniable. We as a society don't accept different; we are always trying to "convert" enemies, "cleanse" neighbors, or "free" enemies. If everyone's the same, then it's much easier to rule, move ahead, and live in harmony. Had Meursault accepted God during his preliminary hearing, accepted his remorse, and asked for forgiveness, then he probably wouldn't have gone to trial because it was the "correct thing" to do. He still had a chance if he had shown remorse during the trial, or any sort of emotion as a matter of fact. But Meursault wasn't normal, he didn't follow the social etiquette needed, therefore he was the weak part that needed replacement in a car.

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please indentTo tell you the truth, when I read the sentencing I was somehow discouraged to continue reading. This is what the reader has been waiting for after all, some sort of order in this strange character. Why did Camus leave the sentencing so early on? I mean I still have 15 pages left and it's not like this is a slow moving book. Hm... I wonder what will happen? Will Meursault have a way to redeem himself and show society he is worthy to be a part of it? I'll have to wait and see.

Frustation is paid off with a little bit of insight...

The Stranger

Ch. 1-2 Part II (pgs. 63 through 81)

August 25, 2007

12:30 P.M.

I have to express the complete frustration I felt in Chapter 1. In this section, he doesn't at all seem to care that he is a criminal, instead he is bother by the petty details of his interrogations, such as the bugs and how hot the room is. The magistrate gives him an opportunity to completely redeem himself and possible escape a jail conviction, yet Meursault totally ignores this offer (any other criminal in their right mind would accept it to avoid jail!) and answers the questions without emotion or possible remorse. "I thought about it for a minute and said that more than sorry I felt kind of annoyed (70)." How can you have no remorse after injuring, and possible killing someone that hasn't done something directly to you!?!? Does he not care that he has a very big chance to rot in jail for the rest of his life? Does he not at all care about the perks of freedom?

I've known throughout the novel that he does not care about any one or anything that isn't him, yet this is about him. He will either be allowed to live the rest of his life as he has been so far, or to be confined to a very small cell that would give anyone claustrophobia! This just comes to show, that at this point in the story Meursault doesn't even care about himself. Throughout the story, I've always questioned whether his indifference was fueled by his selfishness or by something else, but his indifference to get out of jail completely denies any possibility that it is fueled by his selfishness. If he was as selfish as Camus leads the reader to believe, then he wouldn't mind misleading the Magistrate and the reader into believing that he was truly remorseful in order to continue his life and save his, as if nothing had happened. I just think that Meursault cannot show his emotions because he does not know how to accept them or even how the deal with them, so acting as if they don't exist is his best solution.

Although in an earlier post I infered that the pulling of the trigger might mean some foreshadowing in Meursault's character, Chapter 1 completely would change that inference if it wasn't for Chapter 2. Finally, Meursault shows some sort of emotion which seems to be genuine. Although for anyone else it would be considered somewhat unimportant, for Meursault's cold and indifferent character it is definitely a step forward and allows the reader a little insight into why Meursault is so indifferent. He misses women and his cigarettes at the very begining, however his most important accomplishment is his recollection of memories while in jail.

Memories are characterized by holding very strong emotions that you feel particularly attached to. When Meursault relives his memories in his jail cell, the reader can see that a more human side to him. No matter how indifferent and unhuman he might seem, there's a human side which he attempts to hide that shelters all his emotions even from himself. I think the changed that I had infered would take place is just starting its process, now all the reader can do is wait and see what the future might have in store for Meursault's character.

Emotions are to be shown...

The Stranger

Ch 5-6 (pgs. 40 through 59, end of Part I)

For the first time since the novel started the reader gets to witness some sort of emotion or at least a reaction from Meursault ! Towards the end of the fifth chapter, we can see some sort of opening up by Meursault's character. He lets out all his anger, frustration, and resentment on the Arab that has been following Raymond around. I think that all the emotions and sensations he got before the shooting came as a result of all his indifference previously shown throughout the novel. It's as if everything has been bottled up for so long that it finally had to explote and be shown in one way or other.

In my opinion, emotions have to be let out sooner rather than later. It's a terrible vice to keep them hidden because eventually they will torment to the point of eating you alive. If you don't let them out, then you will never be able to deal with them, yet alone learn to live with them. In order to accept them as what they are, you must accept that they are happening to you. It's quite normal to have emotions, every human being has them. The only difference is that some people are really good at showing them and others are really good at hiding them.

The release of the trigger symbolizes probably a drastic change in Meursault's personality; it can be some sort of foreshadowing into what the second part of the book will be like and how Meursault's attitude towards emotions might change. In connection with this, Chapter 6 centers mostly on Meursault for the first time in the novel which can help us with the conclusion that Meursault's character may take a drastic turn in the second part. Camus always tries to avoid describing too much about Mersault or his life, yet overzealously deals with everyone surrounding him. This sudden change in writing perspective is critical is my assumption of possible foreshadowing.

Relating to a previous post: P. 41 "When I was a student, I had lots of ambitions like that. But when I had to give up on my studies I learned very quickly that none of it really mattered."
--Camus is clearly making reference to his own life once again.

The need to hide behind barriers...

The Stranger

Ch 3-4 (pgs. 25 through 39)

Well, I just finished reading Chapter 3 and 4 from The Stranger. In this section, it is pretty obvious that Camus is trying to distract the reader. He's always describing every single person around Monsieur Meursault, as if trying to avoid having to describe anything about a character that possible represents him. Camus constantly recurs to show Meursault's indifference to emotions and people as well as the emptyness that surrounds his life.

It's very similar to a movie I watched this weekend, No Reservations (with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart). The main character, Kate Armstrong, is a renowned chef at a famous New York restaurant, however, she submerges herself in her food and in her work to avoid her loneliness and having to deal with her past (her mother died when she was little, and her father was never home). She shuts people out from her life, and doesn't let anyone in. Just like Meursault did with Marie when she asked him if he would marry her and if he loved her. He said he agreed to marry, but that he probably didn't love her. That "probably" completely hides his true emotions, and he sinks into silly excuses so he can avoid opening up. In the movie, Kate did the same thing with Nick Palmer, however she finally let him come in and opened herself up to him completely. I wonder if Meursault will ever do that with anyone?

I thought I'd compare Kate and Meursault because they have very similar character traits and personalities. They both seem to be emotionless and cold, yet underneath there's some sort of humbleness to them. At the same time, that indifference and strong barrier they build just represent all the insecurities and traumas that burden their day to day lives. I dare to predict that eventually all that indifference will come back to haunt Monsieur Meursault, and something drastic or a new character will come and change completely his outlook on life, or will he?

The Stranger

The Stranger

Ch 1-2 (pages 3 through 24)

So, I just began reading The Stranger, my first assignment. In order to understand more about the author and his reasons for writing, I did a little background check to see what I could find about his life that could help me. If you take a look at Albert Camus' life, you could say he had a very tragic upbringing only to have his life end in a freak car accident at only 57. At a very early age his father died, while his mom, who was partly deaf and illiterate was left with the burden of the family. Camus was soon sent to live with a dying grandmother (with liver cancer) and a paralyzed uncle. His extreme poverty and misery weren't going to prevent him from attending university, however, but his tuberculosis would. The disease took most of his strength away and he reduced himself to a part-time student.

Monsieur Meursault is a pure reincarnation of the melancholic human being that Camus became during his tough early years. The writing style and character traits in The Stranger are marked by the indifference created by the emptiness in his life. Camus uses Monsieur Meursault to express his own emotions and feelings towards the events that took place during his life. We human beings tend to do that, create barriers and appearances that help us deal with tough times and experiences. We think that if we hide behind the appearances and solitude, eventually what's causing us pain will disappear; in my opinion it has something to do with shame. The more pain we show, the more people will have pity for us and the weaker we will be perceived as. The human race is all about survival of the fittest: who's the better student, teacher, mother, father, who can handle emotions and changes best, etc. If at any one moment you show a sign of weakness then you are looked down upon. Human race is a double standard, everyone has to be perfect according to an unwritten rule, yet underneath the table everyone knows that no one is perfect; those are just appearances.

This has happened to each and everyone of us. Around two years ago I had this best friend, we were inseparable, you could say. Suddenly, out of the blue she left and from early on we lost touch. Our friendship had reduced itself to miserable ruin. What hurt the most was that she stopped caring about me or our friendship and resorted to people she had once sworn to hate. I quickly submerged myself into other friendships and relationships, as well a school and other activities, acting completely indifferent towards anything to do with her; acting as if whatever she had done had nothing to do with me. I built a barrier to prevent her from ever coming into my life again; I went out with new people, acting as if I had moved on from that period in my life. Just as Camus wrote to heal his feelings, I, became a social butterfly. However, till this day I still wonder what went wrong and when our friendship fell apart.

Some things I wonder:
Will Camus ever open up completely to the reader?
Will Monsieur Mersault ever become what Camus had wished for himself?
Will Monsieur Mersault's indifference to his mother's death ever come back to haunt him?
Will we ever know more about his relationship with his deceased mother?

When the adventures begins...

Hello you! Welcome to my new blog! My name is Daniela Cleves and I'm currently a senior at CNG. How you found my blog is unknown to me, yet you are very welcome to browse through my voyages in the never ending sea of literature. Here I will be able to express my thoughts and opinions on my current literary interests or assignments (depending on whether I genuinely like it or not). However, you should be warned that it will be a blast of creativity and different points of view, don't expect to agree with everything I say. Hope you enjoy!