Its all about perspective

When reading The Stranger, the character of Mersault comes off as rather socially awkward and strange, but to others such as Marie and Raymond, and even Salmano, Mersault is just a normal person. Could it be the fact that all of Mersault's thoughts, both those he acts on and those he doesn't, are expressed which makes him seem strange? If you were to meet someone like Mersault, and didn't know what they were thinking obviously, do you think they'd come off as strange?

It's Getting Hot in Hurrr

Throughout the novel, the environment that Mersault exists in largely impacts his thoughts and actions at that moment. Whenever he is uncomfortable, his actions often take a turn for the worse. Do you think Mersualt feels he is constantly on the edge, just waiting to be pushed over? Is he out of place in his environment?

A question for the land lubbers!

"The chaplain knew the game well too, I could tell right away: his gaze never faltered. And his voice didn't falter, either, when he said, 'Have you no hope at all? And do you really live with the thought that when you die, you die, and nothing remains?' 'Yes,' I said."

(Camus, 117).

Meursalt's ideals were fairly easy to identify in the very beginning of the novel, but after his arrest we began to see a change in him. In what ways, exactly, do you think jail life changed him? How would you categorize the varous 'phases' he went through leading up to his execution?

How we die?

Meursalt states, "Since we're all going to die, its obvious that when and how don't matter." (Page 114) Do you agree with this or does it matter when and how you die?

Is he ready?

At the end of the novel, while Meursault is screaming at the priest, he mentions "Everybody was privileged. There were only privileged people. The others would all be condemned one day. And he would condmned, too." What do you think Meursault means, in this part of the novel, about everyone being privileged and condemned?

Relationships

Throughout the book we see Meursault detached from everyone around him. Once he is in prison, however, he undergoes many changes. Some of them include showing emotions and hope. During this time he also talks about Marie and even Maman and the times before her death. Do you believe that he did love Maman or Marie?

Making Predictions

At the end of the story, Meursault says that he would like a large group of spectators at his execution. Do you think that anyone will care enough to witness his death, or what might he do if there is a large crowd?

Meursault's Jail Thoughts

"But naturally you can't always be reasonable. At other times, for instance, I would make up new laws. I would reform the penal code. I'd realize that the most important thing was to give the condemned man a chance. Even one in a thousand was good enough to set things right" (Camus 111).

This was a quote of Meursault while he was in his jail cell after finding out he was sentenced to the guillotine. At the beginning of the book, we saw Meursault as an existentialist character. From this quote, do you think he still portrays the qualities of an existentialist or has the jail life changed him?

Traits of Meursault

How would you describe Meursault? Thoughout the novel I keep coming back to the same adjective, "detached". But is he truely detached from society and its status quo? As we continue to analyze Meursault's character I can not help but wonder if Meursault wants to be more emotional in his life, but has difficulty expressing it.

General Question #1

Is anyone else finding it really difficult to come to grasps with the concept that young people are expected to choose one field/profession, get educated in it, and stick with it for life? I could probably feel equally passionate, and be equally successful, with some other major/field; does that mean that I should not be entering the one I have chosen?

Acceptable Use

Remember that anything you write on the wiki or blog is public. It should always be academic and respectful. Violating the AUP will mean failure for the course.