My Sick Day…

World Literature. Tue, Oct 21st, 2008 at 7:16 am

Themes: Discussion, The Stranger, Things Fall Apart

Sorry guys. 

Yesterday we discussed Mersault’s interrogation and trial. We focused, as did his interrogators, on the lack of emotion he showed during his mother’s funeral.  While there was much debate as to whether he did not care or was simply lacking “the trappings and the suits of woe,”  I believe we came to the consensus that he was not reacting “normally” to the situation, whatever the cause.

We also discussed the fact that nearly everyone he interacts with is trying to help him in some way, but he either outright rejects the help or ignores the offer.  (See specifically the Inspector and the Chaplain’s attempts to “help” Mersault.)

My questions to you today:

• What types of things does he most often think about?  (The future/the past/the present, emotions/ideas, people/what he’s currently experiencing….)
• Does he act logically?  (Think about our discussion of his reaction to his mother’s death—Is the “normal” reaction that people have logical, or something else?)
• Is he ever emotional?  When?
• Why does he not seem to want to fight for his freedom?  (See “Hope” in yesterday’s post.)  What is it about his outlook on life that makes this impossible?

Finally, take a look at the last lines of the book:

As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother, really—I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate.

Discuss.  Take notes.  I’ll look over these tomorrow.

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