The Stranger #4

            In the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, the reader is unable to discern whether or not Mersault has emotions. The reader questions Mersault’s lack of emotions especially during Mersault’s trial. Mersault rarely appears to show emotion during the trial even though Mersault is on trial for killing an Arab. During one part of the trial, Mersault explains, “I had this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much all these people hated me” (90). Mersault definitely concerns himself with social acceptance since external hatred makes Mersault want to cry. However, Mersault experiences a rather emotionless urge to cry. Mersault describes the urge as ‘stupid’, for Mersault usually does not cry. Crying would mean showing emotion, and Mersault is definitely not comfortable showing emotion to the reader. Mersault does not see a point in crying, and once again pushes a human emotion away. Since Mersault does not show emotion to the reader, the reader is still unable to declare whether or not Mersault is capable of human emotion.