We started Monday with a look at a murder - Meursault's killing of the Arab on the last page of part 1 (p. 59). In our conversation we noticed the language was filled with words about the light, the heat, and the glare of the sun off the knife, and the ways in which they impacted Meursault's thinking. At the end of the scene he not only kills the Arab, but then shoots 4 more times at the lifeless body - "like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness."
Why? That is what the investigators want to know at the start of part 2, as Meursault is now in the hands of the law. In discussing this scene we looked at ways Meursault describes himself - physical needs getting in the way of emotions, among others - and how the magistrate and lawyer see him. They ask about his feelings for Maman, and then move to the issue of religion. At one point while waving a crucifix above Meursault's head, the magistrate screams that he can't understand why Meursault doesn't believe in God.
Why does it matter what another person believes? Why are they so interested in his beliefs and values?
At the start of class I played a song for you - The Cure's "Killing an Arab" - here is a link to the lyrics. Why is it that Meursault believes "whatever I choose it amounts to the same / absolutely nothing"?
