During Meursault's trial, the prosecutor uses social constructions to prove that Meursault is a danger to society. The prosecutor argues that Meursault's heartlessness is a threat to hide the true threat of his existential beliefs.
"We cannot complain that he lacks what it was not in his power to acquire. But here in this court the wholly negative virtue of tolerance must give way to the sterner but loftier virtue of justice. Especially when the emptiness of a man's heart becomes, as we find it has in this man, an abyss threatening to swallow up society" (101).
The prosecutor uses this argument as an opening to his suggestion that the court give Meursault the death penalty. He initially claims that Meursault cannot be blamed for his supposed lack of a soul or morals. However, the prosecutor quickly adds that in extreme situations, justice is worth more than tolerance. He ranks the social construction of justice above tolerance to condemn Meursault and protect the image of the system.
Meursault supposedly died for justice for the Arab, but historically the French did not care about the native Arabs. Meursault had to die because he stepped outside of the system, which could have caused its collapse if others also realized that the "true" social constructions were illusions. The prosecutor was correct about Meursault being able to ruin the system. However, it was his refusal to embrace the illusions of the system that made him a threat rather than his lack of emotion or violent actions.
I agree that Meursault is convicted based on arguments that he has no morals, and more broadly because he stepped outside the societal system. But what no one in the trial seems to focus on is that he has admitted he shot a man multiple times for no reason at all. I think this would be a much easier reason for the prosecution to get him convicted.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Murder is less threatening to the "rulers" of society than the rejection of society as a whole. It point to how intensely they hold onto these constructions.
ReplyDeleteI believe the Albert Camus, while describing The Stranger, once said something along the lines of "A man who does not weep at his mother's funeral risks being sentenced to death in our society." Your post does a great job of exploring this idea, I would agree that Meursault's refusal to accept social constructs made him an undeniable threat to society. The power that society has over individuals is made very clear by Meursault's trial.
ReplyDeleteWow. Great post. I really liked the passage you chose. I thought it was a pretty great and spot on passage of your theme. It was great evidence showing society's adverse reaction to Camus's presence and the threat they hold him as. Nice post.
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