How Does Meursault Deserve An Unfair Punishment
The most popular reaction to Albert Camus’ The Stranger is to say the trial is inequitable and Meursault did not deserve a punishment as severe as death. When I started the novel I did not agree with that statement at all, it was understood that Meursault had shot the Arabian man, five times at that, how could one find this as an “unfair retribution”? As I kept reading though, I was almost mortified by the conduct and the overall atmosphere of the trial. There is no way to deny that the lawyers behavior towards the defendant was inexcusable. There was a clear injustice of Meursault’s verdict due to the poor courtroom procedure. The prosecutor manipulated Meursault by only allowing him to answer brief yes or no questions, by twisting the
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The trial focuses on Meursault’s failure to show emotion at his mother’s funeral. This, more than the senseless killing, funnels the outrage of the judge, jury, and vengeful prosecutor toward Meursault. In the end, Meursault is eventually convicted largely based upon a testimony concerning this failure to cry and a variety of similar personal episodes, such as; his and Marie’s swimming date the day after the funeral, and his indirect aiding with Raymond's abusive relationship with his girlfriend . The prosecutor alleges that Meursault’s conduct at his mother’s funeral and all of the surrounding events demonstrates just how his cold and hollow heart truly is.. The prosecuting attorney does not agree with his existential life, and because he cannot connect or understand this man’s way of being he lets his ignorance get the best of them, and in an unprofessional manner, ruins Meursault's chance at life.
I believe by allowing Meursault’s lawyer to deliver the news of the attorneys digging into his mother deaths, rather than having the prosecutor blindside the defense instills within the reader a sense of confidence that the lawyer is competent and able, and that he simply chose not to treat this case as something he needs to put forth much time or effort in. One cannot help but wonder if the lawyer’s disgust for Meursault’s lack of emotion and void of God has caused him to distance himself from the case, therefore leading Meursault to the ultimate tragedy: the
The trial focuses on Meursault’s failure to show emotion at his mother’s funeral. This, more than the senseless killing, funnels the outrage of the judge, jury, and vengeful prosecutor toward Meursault. In the end, Meursault is eventually convicted largely based upon a testimony concerning this failure to cry and a variety of similar personal episodes, such as; his and Marie’s swimming date the day after the funeral, and his indirect aiding with Raymond's abusive relationship with his girlfriend . The prosecutor alleges that Meursault’s conduct at his mother’s funeral and all of the surrounding events demonstrates just how his cold and hollow heart truly is.. The prosecuting attorney does not agree with his existential life, and because he cannot connect or understand this man’s way of being he lets his ignorance get the best of them, and in an unprofessional manner, ruins Meursault's chance at life.
I believe by allowing Meursault’s lawyer to deliver the news of the attorneys digging into his mother deaths, rather than having the prosecutor blindside the defense instills within the reader a sense of confidence that the lawyer is competent and able, and that he simply chose not to treat this case as something he needs to put forth much time or effort in. One cannot help but wonder if the lawyer’s disgust for Meursault’s lack of emotion and void of God has caused him to distance himself from the case, therefore leading Meursault to the ultimate tragedy: the