Why does meursault pull the trigger

Just like most things in life. Not everything in life has a purpose or meaning. Shit just happens. Jul 02, AM. My first introduction to this book was an audio-book read by Camus himself. I assumed that if anyone could give Mersault the right intonation in the voice, it would be him. My actual reading of the book was forever influenced by Camus' voice. As Duane pointed out, I never got the impression that Mersault is trying to "feel" the way others seem to do. But on the subject of the Arab, I agree with Duane, it's not a conscious act; it happens to him , rather than to the Arab.

And of course, as someone pointed out on the other thread, the death of the Arab, in itself, is as unimportant to the jury as it was meaningless to Mersault. Jul 02, PM. Laura wrote: "My first introduction to this book was an audio-book read by Camus himself. Of curse, some authors can't even read their own works effectively I just adore Kathy Acker but I went to one of her readings and her delivery was as flat as a pancake.

Jul 06, AM. Duane wrote: "Dang I was learning French, and a French friend thought it would be a nice practice, so he gave it to me. I was never at any public reading, but I figured the author would read it right He was Mersault! Or maybe I just think he was, and his voice is why I think what I think about Mersault? You can find it on youtube, but in French, of course.

It has the option of French subtitles and youtube can translate them, but I would bet it isn't the official translation of the book in English and it could make you cringe if it is a Google translate. Jul 07, PM. I knew as soon as I posted that that I'd find out it was in French In which I refuse to admit to being conversant, except for lampooning the French in Franglish, of course.

But thanks for the link, which I will infestigate And of which I will deny all ability to understand, especially to my redneck friends, and except if I'm trying to get laid by some Frenchwoman. Mersault's murder of the Arab isn't existentialism, either, no matter what Camus thought - it's outright nihilism NOW we're talking.

Some of them can read, and some can't Oh well. Jul 09, AM. The level of French wasn't as intricate for me as other books in French that I read. Contemporary enough not to confuse me with elements no translator knows Ah Flaubert! Now, about the Arab, you're going into deeper waters than my limited knowledge can swim, but oh so interesting!

So I'll just make a fool of myself and talk about what I know almost nothing, just because I love this book. Please, feel free to correct, but play nice or I will spank you! I don't see Meursault as nihilist, just because he refuses to play "the game", as Camus said. He also does things that he knows are expected of him, but always keeping his commitment to the truth I almost went on about Meursault and feelings, his and others', but not the subject here.

There is a rupture right after the first shot, and Meursault motivations -to keep shooting- change there. He didn't go to the beach looking for the Arab and I guess you could say "the sun made him do it" -that first shot.

The sun is depicted as a monster, torturing Meursault, and to hear him describe it please bear with my translation attempts , this sun almost sounds like a creature that breathes and blows, leans on him, oppresses him, attacks him with "swords" or "blades" of light and heat, etc. Camus' voice transmits this discomfort so well, I remember being eager to move past this scene out of my own discomfort hearing it.

His discourse focuses on his face, attacked by the sun, the heat, the sweat, a veil in front of his "painful eyes". He took a step forward escaping from the sun, even when he thought it was stupid. Meursault is here the "sufferer" of the sun, the light, the trigger that went off. The first shot lifts the veil from his eyes, and the tone of the scene changes.

Perhaps that was Camus' existentialism in play. Meursault realizes what he just did -not that he killed someone, but that he broke the balance of the day - and embraces the absurdity of the situation, owns it and becomes the actor, instead of the sufferer: "alors" he shot 4 more times. It's interesting the use of "alors". It can be translated as "then, he kept shooting" or "so, he kept shooting", and the meaning subtly changes. Especially because he thinks "he had been happy" or something in this direction, and knows that's part of the past, "alors" he keeps shooting.

If you one day find the patience to hear it, you will also notice that Camus' tone of voice changes from here onwards and all through part 2, to go with the change in the wording and images evoked. Just don't use Meursault's words if you're trying to seduce a Frenchwoman Jul 10, AM. Not to worry; I will resort to my barbaric tinge for seduction purposes Get a look at that film "La Bonne Annee In French for the technique That's their weakness, they love animals.

You're just making my point I think? It wasn't that he thought killing the Arab had no meaning; he just didn't give a damn. You have to be willing to agonize over the meaninglessness of everything in order to be an existentialist, whereas a nihilist doesn't even care if everything is meaningless. I mean, you get the impression he probably shot the Arab just to see if the gun would work, and get the sunlight out of his eyes. Which is brilliant, but I still think it's pure nihilism Yeah, that book is easy reading for 2nd or 3rd year French stoonts Which reminds me Isn't "Alors" one of those idiomatic thingumbobs that doesn't have any exact trashlation in English?

Camus is one of the key contributors to works on existentialism. Existentialism and nihilism are often confused with one another, but existentialism differs in that it advocates that a person can bring value into their life, they are capable of actions that are of value to others, even though life itself is absurd and meaningless.

Nihilism just proposes everything is meaningless and nothing you do can be of any value. The concept of value differentiates the two philosophies,. Jul 15, AM. Duane wrote: "I mean, you get the impression he probably shot the Arab just to see if the gun would work, and get the sunlight out of his eyes.

Maybe that could fit into nihilism, but then he changes. It seemed to me that the skies opened on their whole extension to let fire rain? Camus' voice accompanies this change of sense in Meursault's discourse.

You also said "An existentialist, for instance, is willing to commit suicide to prove how meaningless life is" and I can't help thinking of this when Meursault "alors" shoots 4 more times.

Was he owning the absurdity of his life? He could have said it was an accident, that "the trigger gave in" or that he saw the knife and it was self defense, but he consciously shot 4 more times in cold blood, knowing it meant the end of his life.

Did he know he didn't stand a chance in court, because he was a 'stranger', because he knew that things like not crying at his mother's funeral or going to the pool the day after would make him guiltier than killing a man?

That sounds to me like going willingly to the gallows, knowing how absurd his trial would be. And yes, "alors" is difficult to translate even in context, because it would depend on the intention from both Doylean and Watsonian points of view.

Jul 15, PM. It was all the same to him one way or another. I think it's like "the whole sky rained fire on me" It was then that I realized that you could either shoot or not shoot" Part 1, Chapter 6, pg.

When the Arabs run off, Raymond returns to the cottage alone. The burning sun coupled with slurring effects of the alcohol forces Meursault into a state of unrest. He cannot see a thing and feels a strong throbbing within him as he struggles to walk through the water and the sand. The Arab who they recognize as Raymond's ex-mistress' brother returns to the stream with a knife. Meursault pulls out the gun, in what he feels as defense. The combined effects of the afternoon the heat and alcohol make him feel as if he's being attacked and beaten.

He pulls the trigger and shoots. That's when everything began to reel. The sea carried up a thick, fiery breath. It seemed to me as if the sky split open from one end to the other to rain down fire. My whole being tensed and I squeezed my hand around the revolver. The trigger gave; I felt the smooth underside of the butt; and there, in that noise, sharp and deafening at the same time, is where I tall started.

I shook off the sweat and sun. I knew that I had shattered the harmony of the day, the exceptional silence of a beach where I'd been happy. Then I fired four more times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace.

And it was like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness. Browse all BookRags Book Notes. Copyrights The Stranger from BookRags. All rights reserved. Toggle navigation. Sign Up. Sign In. Get The Stranger from Amazon. View the Study Pack. View the Lesson Plans.

He is also certain of everything. In fact, he's "sure about [himself], about everything, surer than [the chaplain] could ever be, sure of [his] life and sure of the death [he has] waiting for [him]. Most interesting is the switch in the way that Meursault views people.

No longer sentencing himself to social isolation, he speaks of "a large crowd of spectators" attending his execution, a crowd that may "greet [him] with cries of hate," such that he feel "less alone.

Where did that come from!? Just a page or two earlier, actually, during his ranting and raving at the chaplain. Meursault says that "we're all elected by the same fate," that with this common fate death , no one is privileged above any other person—therefore everyone is privileged. It's interesting that he could have gone in the other direction and said that therefore no one was privileged, but maybe Camus was feeling optimistic. If everyone is made common by death, then he can comprehend these other, living creatures as being just like him.

Stars: They're Just Like Us! This counters his earlier statement, when he said it was hard to believe that the residents of the nursing home existed. They must exist—because they are going to die.

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. He doesn't actually say he wants to feel less alone. He hasn't yet put into action his revelation.

He hasn't yet wished for the large crowd of spectators. He knows he could—he knows this is the next step, but he doesn't do it yet. One of the major points of The Stranger isn't Meursault suddenly wanting people around—the point is his newfound knowledge, his awareness, and his consciousness.

As long as he knows that he could wish for people people that hate him at that, which is another can of worms altogether , that's good enough. Stick a fork in this absurdist: he's done. Parents Home Homeschool College Resources. Study Guide. By Albert Camus. Previous Next. Meursault Who Is This Guy? He's also a jerk. Meursault's Evolution If you look on the surface, it's hard to see any change within Meursault. A Whole New Meursault.