"He’s dangerous because he’s sincere"

In both the novel The Stranger and the movie Trust existentialism is a central theme. Characters from both stories struggle with the significance life and come to the conclusion that life is meaningless. Additionally both characters struggle with fitting into societal norms, which is especially seen in their need to be truthful and disregard for how that truth affect others.

In The Stranger Meursault refuses to lie, he does not see the point in doing it to save people's feelings or to save himself. This leads to him hurting Marie, one of the few people he seems to care about, "A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn't mean anything but that I didn't this so. She looked sad" (35). Meursault's inability to lie is his fatal fall, as it dehumanizes him during his trial where he is unable to demonstrate compassion for his mother. More so, however, Meursault's fault is truly fatal because it distances him from society. It others him.

Similarly in Trust Maria explains, "He's dangerous because he's sincere" about Matthew. This quote demonstrates how since Matthew does not fear telling the truth he is dangerous, like Meursault. This is because when one is willing to tell the truth, they are also willing to reveal certain truths about life that many are too scared to hear, let alone speak of. It is this fear that alienates both Matthew and Meursault, and leads to their prosecutions. Additionally it is because of this fear that Meursault proclaims, "I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my executing and that they greet me with cries of hate" (123), as he knows if people hate him, it is only because they fear that what he says is true.