Hatred and Condemnation towards those who do not Conform

Meursault's trial includes the critique of how he handled and responded to the death of his mother. His actions during his mother's funeral are what ultimately led to his conviction due to society seeing his actions as those of an outsider and therefore, wrong. The director of the home that Maman was in was called in to the trial and spoke of how Meursault showed no emotion for the loss of his mother. The prosecutor when asked if he wanted to question Meursault further responded by saying, "'Oh no, that is quite sufficient!'" The prosecutor had a "glee" and "triumphant" look on his face. Meursault saw this and said,"...for the first time in years, I had this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much all of these people hated me." (89-90) Very little of the actual case is included in the trial. The trial revolves around Meursault and his actions at his mother's funeral. The prosecutor knew that he had Meursault in a bind because he knew that everyone in the courtroom would frown upon Meursault's actions during Maman's funeral. They would see his actions as odd and seemingly wrong. This condemned Meursault because it put him in a place where he is viewed as a bad person, and a stranger, and therefore, he was viewed as capable of committing his crime out of pure malice.