Sunday, November 8, 2015
On The Stranger
Throughout the whole book, Meursault has always appeared nonchalant. I think the moment he gave his existence essence was when that unconcerned attitude was broken. It started after the trial when he clearly did not want to die. However, the moment that he decided to give his existence essence was he snapped and started yelling at the chaplain. Before that he just took everything as it was. But at that moment, he confessed that he wanted a life where he could remember the the one he was currently living. He said that in the end, the blind rage had washed him clean. This shows how he wanted to live a new life. He determined himself to be indifferent like the world. I think this is the point where he becomes a person. All the other times he was always going with the flow without thinking. This time, although he is still going with the flow, he reflected and thought of the past and future. It was the first time he had explained his actions. He said that no one had the right to cry over his mother because she had been happy and free to live once more which is the reason he did not cry over her. He also found the world like himself. This shows how he now knows what his self was like. It was his identity. In the end, he was happy again. He was happy that he was indifferent and with death his life would be complete.
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I agree in that Mersault's existence gained essence throughout the story. And that it became apparent when he expressed himself to the chaplain in what could be called blind rage. Although would you agree when I say that it was his decision in killing the Arab that actually gave his existence essence? Since the scene with the chaplain was led by his decision in shooting the Arab.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment. For the most part, I don't think when he gave his existence essence when he shot the Arab. Although the scene with the chaplain was led by that decision, that decision was completely different. In that scene, he didn't feel anything when he killed a person. At that point in time, he was still mostly going with the flow. It's true that he was annoyed at the sun/light; however, he didn't express any feelings unlike at the point where he yells at the chaplain.
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