"I had only one wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate" (123).
Meursault has accepted his oncoming death, but he still wants one more thing. To me, this one last thing contradicts his indifferent demeanor, but it also emphasizes his beliefs. Throughout the novel, Meursault has carried an uninterested personality, which made me naturally think that he would be indifferent about his death and his beliefs in relation to others' beliefs. When Meursault's last wish is to see an angry crowd at his execution, I think that means that he wants a large crowd to believe his own beliefs and be angry about the reasons for his wrongly execution. This thinking is in violation of an indifferent attitude, but it delves into the character and complexity of Meursault one last time.
Meursault thinks that his ideas are the right ideas- similar to how we all think that we are right- but I never thought that his dying wish would be to be believed by others. When Meursault engaged in a heated conversation with the priest, I would have guessed that Meursault wouldn't care to push anyone else to believe what he believes. Due to his strong sentiments, Meusault proves to be an activist of his ideas. He feels that people should follow within his existentialist views.
But is this really Meursault?
If being existentialist values avoiding change caused by outside influence, then should we still believe in Meursault's so called existentialism if he wants to be the one that sways others' opinions? Or is Meursault the one that is swayed by relying his dying wish on the presence and state of mind of the others that show up at his execution?
This is true. Although I believe that his need for an audience at his execution was more for him than anyone else. He wanted to know that he lived his life how he chose and that the audience as a whole (or society) had the wrong idea. I don't think he sought out to change their idea of living life.
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