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Meursault (Effect on others (Maman (Due to Meursault’s lack of emotion, he…
Meursault
Effect on others
Arabs
Due to Meursault’s lack of rationality, he killed the Arab for no reason. He ended his life because of the hot temperature and the reflection of the sun.
Raymond
Unlike everybody else in the neighborhood, Meursault chooses to become Raymond’s pals as he lacks sympathy for Raymond’s mistress, and Raymond offers him his physical needs like alcohol.
Marie
Instead of having a feeling for Marie, Meursault cares more about her outer appearance as well as her body part.
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Maman
Due to Meursault’s lack of emotion, he sent his mother to the older adult’s home without any concern.
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Magistrate
Meursault’s personalities and thoughts against Christianity and lack of emotion caused conflict between the magistrate and him. In the society that Meursault lives in, the majority of the population follows Christianity, and the magistrate found it offended him and the society, and that is his purpose of life.
Actions
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As a nihilist, Meursault does not try to find a goal for his life and he is satisfied with his present life. He repeats his daily routine for years without trying to make any changes.
He does not feel excitement when he gets the chance to work in Paris which is where the young adults aspire for.
Meursault cares more about physical pleasure in his life. He satisfies himself whenever he needs and feels.
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In the book, the heat of the sun triggers him and the water of the ocean calms him down.
Thoughts
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Meursault does not think deeply about either himself or society. He is rarely concerned about society and how society thinks about himself. He never thinks emotionally.
"But I said that until then, I had not realized that people thought badly of me for doing it."
Throughout the book, Meursault barely comments on the people around him. However, he does not realize and expects society to care about him, as well.
Meursault is against religion, specifically Christianity, in the book.
"I had only a little time left, and I did not want to waste it on God."
Meursault refuses to open up to the God for attaining forgiveness before the execution as he did not want to waste his time on God that he does not believe in.
Speech
Meursault is an honest man as he barely covers up his inner thoughts even when he tries to fit into society's accepted moral standards.
"I asked my boss for two days off, and there was no way he was going to refuse me with an excuse like that. But he wasn't too happy about it. I even said, "It's not my fault." He didn't say anything. Then I thought I should not have said that." (Camus 3)
Meursault chooses to reply his boss that he did not ask for his mother's death, and it is not his fault due to his honesty as he barely thinks psychologically from neither himself nor the others.
Meursault often agrees with whomever he is talking to as he is never concerned about society and how the society thinks about him. He thinks that stuff does not matter as long as it satisfies, and it will not affect his physical needs.
In chapter 3, when Raymond mentions about his cheating mistress, Meursault agrees to what he said without analyzing the situation even when Raymond abused his mistress and fought with her brother as it does not affect him.
As a physical person, Meursault does not want to offend someone who provided him a meal when he found Raymond's story fascinating.
Throughout the book, Meursault barely talks. He thinks more than talking in the book.
From Meursault's perspective, he is a nihilist, and he thinks that life is meaningless. He refuses to find the meaning of life and work for it.
"He was planning to open an office in Paris, which would handle his business directly with the big companies, on the spot, and he wanted to know how I felt about going there. I would be able to live in Paris and to travel around for part of the year as well. "You're young, and it seems it is the kind of life that would appeal to you." I said yes but that really it was all the same to me. Then he asked me if I was not interested in a change of life." (Camus 41)
As a nihilist, Meursault thinks that people have no actual meaning, and we are going to die anyway. In this case, as long as we are content with our present life, nothing matters.
Meursault is firmly against religion, specifically Christianity in the book
In chapter 11, a chaplain comes and visits Meursault in the cell after the announcement of his execution. However, he refuses to talk to him and spend his time on him as Meursault does not believe in religion and god. He does not feel any sense of guilt even when he killed someone as he does not require the forgiveness of the god from his perspective.
Meursault does not follow the humanity and morality that are defined by God and society. Instead, he does not feel anything about his actions.
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