miércoles, 5 de septiembre de 2007

The Punishment (The Stranger pg. 100-123)

Did Meursault receive the punishment he deserved? I have been asking myself this question since I finished the book. Throughout the whole story I was angry at Meursault for being the way he was! I did not understand why he had to be so empty inside and so careless about everything. Nevertheless, I found a quotation of the book that made me feel pity for him. "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." I find this quotation extremely strong. It shows Meursault's total confidence towards his way of living and his way of being. I admire his way of not changing his personality just because a priest, a judge, or his lawyer tells him to. However, I do not encourage being like Meursault, although, throughout the book I did learn to respect his decisions and his way of being.

Having analyzed Meursault's personality I thought it was interesting to discuss society and how many people have been punished for being different. In class we have talked and compared Sisyphus, Meursault and Jesus. We discussed how they were all punished for being different.
It is obvious that society today takes a while to adapt to change, and to new different ideas. But, how many people have to die for us to realize being different does not make you guilty of anything? If we think, throughout history, changes have happened and it is because of some people that have thought differently. It is beacuse of this that we have technology or philosophy. It is because of this that some ancient people have become famous, it is because of this that people get rewarded. But, do people have to die because of this?

1 comentario:

J. Tangen dijo...

Why are the different punished? Maybe because in being dissident you are powerful.


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beacuse