FIRST EMOTIONAL MANIFESTATION

“For the first time in years I had this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much all these people hated me”(P. 90)

The trial starts, Meursault surrounded by various spectators, prosecutors, and verdicts, tackling them with his eccentric reality. As it goes over, the pressure done towards this character dramatically starts increasing. His private life is set in this stage as the protagonist, where past events and individuality considerably influence him in an unhelpful way.
Throughout the story, it had been complex to understand Meursault´s personality, since he doesn’t appreciate the reflection of emotions nor thoughts. Two events had happened, where same strange expressions had appeared. By following this passage we can discover a new side of this protagonist.

For the first time, under pressure, he accepts the presence of feelings in his person, although he doesn’t act it in front of characters, but does share it with readers.

PHYSICAL ACTIONS, THE REASON OF HIS FEELINGS

While having the opportunity to recognize an innovative plot episode, such as the Arab’s murder, the book started to capture the audience in diverse motivating ways.
After Meursault killed the Arab, ignoring its purpose nor effect, he went directly to prison. As soon as he got in, a lawyer was asked to attend and defend this absurd case. The lawyer started interviewing him about his life, individuality, dealings and relations. Evidently, his mother’s death was going to be a relevant fact to discuss during this private life investigation. As it started, Meursault´s personality again reflected the bizarre expression he had before going to prison. Once more, “ he started out by saying that people were describing me as a taciturn and withdrawn person”, (P.66) said the lawyer to Meursault.
Meursault briefly reiterate, “I explained to him, however, that my nature was such that my physical needs often got the way of my feeling”(P.65). Here’s where we can comprehend that his tough and rude attitude during his mother’s funeral was caused since he was really tired and sleepy.
At this point, we should be aware that Meursault´s words considerably elucidate his own precedent events, such as the Arab’s murder.
This means that his physical daily actions directly influence his emotions, so... Would Meursault had physically killed the Arab because of certain emotions he was carrying within himself long time ago?
Maybe he does sense and heed about his own actions, but they are caused by his inner feelings. Sometimes people act in the way they act because something is bothering themselves since long time ago.
Yet, we don’t identify the cause of this murder, but with this individual’s terminology, we can get nearer to conclusions.

Mersault´s stance towards two significant deaths

“The sun was the same as it had been the day I´d buried Maman and like then, my forehead especially was hurting me, all the veins in it throbbing under the skin.”(P.58-59)
Wow! From this citation I can profoundly connect the two most remarkable and imperative events which have risen the significance of the book until this moment. Two deaths have happened throughout the story, where the first one, Mersault´s mother one, made the spectators initiate to analyze and recognize the eccentric personality of the protagonist. After having understood the lack of emotions and sensitivity expressed from this character towards his mother’s death, it makes it easier for readers to understand Mearsult´s murder to the Arab, since he neither felt regret nor concern.
He just “...fired four times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace”(P.59) That was it! Once more his emotional ignorance invades his mind!
Why did his forehead hurt just at the time when two deaths happened?... Would this be a warning sign to make him stop being so alienated from his feelings?

“You don’t appreciate what you have until you loose it”

It´s astonishing how the following quote; “You don’t appreciate what you have until you loose it”, is applied in everyone’s life. Long time ago I could see a friend who was dating a guy, and it was conspicuous he was the one much more in love than her. Days passed, and my friend got really uninterested and determined to end with this love date. It is really funny because now days she is the one looking for this same man, and he’s now in a relationship with another girl. She knew she had the opportunity to be with him but she didn’t take advantage of his past feelings, and now that she doesn’t have him, she is passionate about been with him.
Now, with this short story I want to emphasize the situation that occurred with Meursault´s neighbor, Salamano, who lived with his dog, but he was always desperate because “he was bad-tempered, Salamano said”(P.45)
But...”His life had changed now and he wasn’t too sure what he was going to do”(P.46) since one day he woke up without the presence of his dog. From this moment, I realized how Salamano was suffering about his dog life , just when he wasn´t present.
Maybe if Salamano finds his dog, he will now be conscious about his gorgeous relationship.
From these two examples, remember... We need to be aware of taking advantage of the circumstances though we may not have them again, as well as with people!

"Take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway"

"Take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway"

"He was planning (Boss) to open an office in Paris...Then he asked me if I wasn´t interested in a change of life"(P.41)
...Oh my God! For the first time since I started reading the book I saw an open door where I would be able to discover new events and a change of plot...But...

Meursault said, “I said that people never change their lives, that in any case once life was as good as another and that it wasn´t dissatisfied with mine here at all”(P.41)
Here´s where I want to reaffirm how humans, such as Meursault, lock themselves in certain habits which appear to have no changes nor improvements.
This is the reason individuals require to learn how to risk themselves in captivating different paths and apply acceptance and analysis to every new change.
Today´s society live under certain routines where members are fulfilled and adapted...which is not bad! But it will be exceptional to follow Kelly Clarkson´s words in Breakaway song... "take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway"

GIVING IMPORTANCE TO INSIGNIFICANT DETAILS

GIVING IMPORTANCE TO INSIGNIFICANT DETAILS
VS.
RELEVANT ISSUES

"Maman died today or yesterday maybe, I don´t know"(P.3)
VS.
"Before leaving the office to go to lunch, I washed my hands...I really like doing this at lunchtime...I don´t enjoy it so much in the evening."(P.25)

The protagonist reflects to the audience the opposite of the human stereotype who usually gives importance to significant dealings that will have effects upon itself. With these two quotes we can clearly realize Meursault´s interests where the typical vital things for today’s society aren´t significant for him. He really cares about washing his hands before having lunch, while he drastically diminishes the importance of his mother´s death and his future marriage with Marie...
Wow! With these two passages we can definitively start to comprehend the book´s peculiar title, The Stranger!!

Welcome to my literature space

Hello!! My name is Paula Aparicio and I'm part of the twelve grade english class. In this page you'll be able to know what I read, think and analyze about all novels I have read. This will be the best space to reflect free and spontanous thoughts throughout all this semester.I'm sure everyone will have a lot of fun expressing and sharing whatever your critique will be.Paula Aparicio!!!!!!