How did you like the book? Was the second part as you expected?
It seems that the absurd honesty of our protagonist, the anti-hero Mersault, reaches its highest in this second part. For instance, when after being asked if he regrets the criminal act, he says that, after reflecting on it, it is rather boredom than regret what he feels. Also,when he talks about the conveniences of the legal system, or on how nice the policeman was that he felt like shaking hands…
What is the point of such long trial trial when there is no doubt, denial, remorse or regret for the crime? And what is really the focus of the trial? The protagonist's murder of a person, or his attitude at his mother's funeral? Society's seek of a "rational" explanation of the crime leads to a process that makes no sense, for is hopeless and irrational.
How do you feel about our protagonist in this second part where he seems to start feeling something and gaining consciousness? What is he really feeling?
This has been a reading full of opportunities to reflect on our very own existence, along or in opposition to the protagonist's process.
"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life". Albert Camus
