English IV
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Meursault
mentions his thoughts about the indifference he feels about time, death and thoughts
of other people, yet he is easily manipulated. "Hardly anyone listened [to
Masson and Salamano when they] testified that [Meursault] was an honest
man" in court (Camus 94). Masson and Salamano do not make that big of a
difference in the court when defending Meursault. The majority of the crowd
takes the position of most importance and concern in Meursault's mind because
of this. Meursault yells to the chaplain "at the top of [his] lungs, and
... insulted him and told him not to waste his prayers on [Meursault]"
(Camus 120). The pressure Meursault feels from other people exceeds his ability
to control his thoughts and decide for himself. Toward the end he claims to
have "opened [him] self to the gentle indifference of the world" (Camus 122). Meursault's own opinion is
present but not active. His last desire is that he wants "there to be a
large crowd of spectators the day of [his] execution and that they greet [him]
with cries of hate" (Camus 123). As a last thought before dying he is
conquered by the pressure that has been put on him by the justice system and
the majority of the people around him.
Bibliograhy: The Stranger by Albert
Camus
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