Alternate Trial Verdict: Society's Hostility, Irrationality, and Fathomlessness in Albert Camus's The Stranger

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Alternate Trial Verdict: Society’s Hostility, Irrationality, and Fathomlessness in Albert Camus’s The Stranger

Statement of Intent

Albert Camus’s The Stranger presents an Existentialist point of view of life through its protagonist, Meursault. From the start, his indifference towards life is established via his reaction to the news of his mother’s death. While visiting the retirement home, it is made apparent that his physical condition overpowers his emotional state. Later, in jail, he explains to his lawyer that his “physical needs often got in the way of [his] feelings” (p. 65). This is clearly shown when he is at his mother’s vigil, in which he is too weary to do much else except sit and eventually fall asleep. Not only that, but he never once feels or shows grief for his deceased mother. It is for this that society sentences him to death at the trial, not the fact that he has murdered an Arab.

I shall write a pastiche that takes place during the defending lawyer’s speech, revealing how Meursault’s sentencing could have differed. This allows me to explore Meursault’s character and style and some of the central themes in the novel. Since The Stranger is written from Meursault’s perspective, this pastiche will imitate his generally indifferent style and, as a result, grants me the opportunity to explore his language. His vocabulary is reminiscent of the vocabulary used in a story that a person may tell a friend after some prominent event,—neither extensive nor simple—albeit Meursault does not have the enthusiasm and feeling that a storyteller would have. His diction is straightforward and reflects someone simply observing and telling the events happening around them with some narrator intervention at times, without weaving together intricate sentences. This manages to give Meursault a tone of indifference in his language, which is consistent with his mostly emotionless character.

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Meursault’s lack of remorse is the primary argument the prosecuting lawyer makes; therefore, if it becomes trivial, there is little argument for sentencing Meursault to death. The punishment for murdering an Arab, at the time, was lenient. Furthermore, towards the end of his lawyer’s speech, I will have Meursault state that he feels remorse and regret. This makes it impossible for the prosecutor to say anything more that could be used against Meursault, eliminating most of what he has argued.

In addition, Meursault sometimes gives his own input on his surroundings. He does this frequently, usually commenting on the heat; ...

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