Comment on the trial scenes of The Outsider.

Answer

Comment on the trial scenes of The Outsider.

Albert Camus’s (1913-1960) “The Outsider” (1942) tells the story of Meursault, a man who kills an Arab on a sunny beach and faces trial for murder. But his trial is not only about the crime—it is also about his character and beliefs. Through the trial scenes, Camus shows how society judges people not only for their actions but also for how they think and feel. The trial becomes a symbol of society’s rejection of an emotionless man, who tries to create his own meaning in a meaningless world.

The Beginning of the Trial: When the trial begins, Meursault feels like an outsider sitting in a strange play. He notices the people in the courtroom watching him as if he were a show. He does not feel guilty or angry; he simply observes. From the start, the lawyers and judges focus not only on the murder but also on Meursault’s behavior after his mother’s death. They think it is strange that he did not cry at the funeral and went to the cinema the next day. The court sees his calmness as proof of cruelty. Instead of discussing the murder itself, they spend more time judging his personality. This shows how society cannot accept a person who refuses to pretend emotions.

The Court’s Focus on Meursault’s Character: During the trial, the prosecutor tries to show Meursault as a “heartless monster.” He speaks about his mother’s funeral again and again. He says that a man who does not weep for his mother can easily kill someone. He says:

“When I look into a man’s face … all I see is a monster.”

The audience in the courtroom reacts with shock and disgust. Meursault’s lawyer tries to defend him logically. He explains that the murder happened because of the strong heat and sunlight, not because Meursault planned it. But no one listens. The court wants a story of guilt and morality, not of truth and reason. This