Feb 19 Homework

Part 2 Chapter 1

This chapter reveals us the true criminality of Meursault. Again we see a character that doesn’t care in any way about his reality. Before this, Meursault had started to show us a more sensitive side of his personality, but having read about the investigation of his murder, I could see that Meursault had not changed his way of thinking. In previous blogs, I expressed a certain relief when I observed that Meursault could show emotion, but with the following quote, apparently, I was proved wrong. “…he asked if I loved Maman. I said, ‘Yes the same as anyone’” (Pg. 67) In this case I thought that Meursault would admit that he really does love his mother, but he just discards the question as if it had no importance to himself or to his case. I believe that it will be his indifference that will condemn him I the end. Meursault’s indifference apparently bothers the people that are trying to help him with the case.

An occurrence that puzzles me was when the magistrate suddenly takes out a crucifix and starts using God as a way of convincing Meursault that he should feel bad. “…he told me that he believed in God, that it was his conviction that no man was so guilty that God would not forgive him, but in order for that to happen a man must repent and in so doing become like a child whose heart is open and ready to embrace all. “ (Pg. 68)I was able to understand a very interesting matter concerning Meursault’s criminality; Meursault clearly shows that he doesn’t care about what he did, giving him the image of the cold blooded murderer; in this case Meursault is evidently a criminal. Even Meursault admits that he is, in fact, a criminal. “But then I realized that I was one too. It was an idea I couldn’t get used to.” (Pg.70)

Reading the last couple of pages, I observed that Camus wants to show us something very interesting: we, as humans are afraid of what we don’t understand. “’I have never seen a soul as hardened as yours. The criminals who have come before me always wept at the sight of this image of suffering.’” (Pg. 69) This quote demonstrates how the magistrate acknowledges that he doesn’t understand Meursault’s indifference. Taking this a step further, people start despising Meursault because of their fear of the unknown “’That’s all for today, Monsieur Antichrist’” (Pg. 71)