Alternative Ending

Spoiler Alert: Meursault is sentenced to execution. The closing chapters made it clear that whether he would be punished was not the question, the only debate was what it would be. While his lawyer remained optimistic, stating, "I'm convinced the outcome will be favorable," he was ultimately incorrect (106). Meursault is sentenced to death by execution on the guillotine in a public square. He is ordered to die. What if he hadn't been? What if the jury had returned and found him guilty but only sentenced him to time in prison, I wonder. What if, like the lawyer said, the outcome had been "favorable"?
I believe there are two probable outcomes that would have emerged from such a verdict: either Meursault would completely change his life around and live each moment trying to make up for his mistakes, or he would commit suicide.

"...For the first time in years I had the stupid urge to cry because I could feel how much all these people hated me" (89). Meursault tells the readers this rather unexpected piece of information as he watches the prosecutor berate his name again and again. The prosecutor points to Meursault's lack of emotion at his mother's funeral as the main evidence of his guilt. Meursault, who had previously been indifferent towards how he was perceived, now feel remorse. It is hard to tell whether this remorse is a result of being disliked or regretful for his mother's death, but regardless, he is experiencing an emotion unusual for him.  This guilt has the potentiol to drive his coming years in a positive direction. He may learn to live life instead of sleep through it, he may appreciate the small things, he may dedicate his time to making the world a better place. While he has been seen as slightly suicidal for the better half of the book, he demonstrates his will to live when he promises, "If I ever got out of this prison I would go and watch every execution there was" (110). This statement indicates that Meursault truly wants to live- otherwise he;d have no business planning what he could do if he were free. Due to his profound show of guilt and remorse at the trial, coupled with his apparent will to live, I believe an alternative ending may have shown him using this second chance to turn his life around.

The other alternative for Meursault's story is suicide. Throughout the book, the readers are privy to Meursault's indifference and disdain towards life. He says,"I learned very quickly that [ambitions] don't matter" and "I wasn't interested in a change of life...One life was as good as another.." (41). These sentiments are what many therapists would consider to be "suicidal thoughts". Quite frankly, I have to agree. From the very beginning of the book, we are made completely aware that life is a burden to Meursault. Despite the remorse and occasional whims of desires to survive, we mostly see Meursault turn to embracing his death sentence As the sirens approach Meursault's cell on the day of his execution, he seems to come to a conclusion: "I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated.." (123). He has essentially decided that death is the best case scenario in this moment. It is his ideal situation and he seems to believe that knowing he is about to die has brought great satisfaction. I believe that part of this comes from the sentence itself, from being forced to accept the inevitable. That being said, I think he would have come to this conclusion on his own accord, seeing as he has always been prone to suicidal thoughts.

Camus didn't write this story with either of those endings, and I believe that was a good choice in terms of characterizing both Meursault and the theme as a whole. Regardless, I think it is interesting to imagine what could have happened. What do you think? Do these sound like plausible responeses, or do you believe there would have been a different outcome?