How has the progression of society and civilization been both a detriment and benefit to humankind?
In The Stranger, by Albert Camus, Meursault does not necessarily abide by social customs. He is alienated by society because of his seeming lack of emotion at his mother's funeral, and his inability to sufficiently explain his actions at times. His acceptance by society seems to gradually slip away the further into the novel we read.
Ultimately, Meursault finds himself on trial for murdering a man, with somewhat of an unclear intent. More than his actual crime, Meursault seems to be under scrutiny for his personality and how he displays his emotions. The prosecutor's main argument for why Meursault is guilty consists of accusations regarding the apparent apathy the day of his mother's funeral and the days following-all which is days before the murder. Meursault eventually gets sentenced to death by a guillotine. It takes him until his last days-sitting in jail, awaiting his imminent death-to realize the significance of death, and to actually understand his mother's choices near her death. This tragic realization is a result of Meursault being forced into a situation where all he has left to do is ponder life.
The manner in which Meursault is ordered to end his life gives him an interesting perspective on death. He realizes that death is inescapable, and that "whether it was now or twenty years from now, I would still be the one dying" (Camus 114). He ascertains that it does not matter when one dies, since eventually everyone will die. He considers his public death by guillotine, and laments that he never learned more about deaths by guillotines and that he never witnessed an execution. This is what leads him to start considering his life and the significance of the moments leading to his death.
The progression, by society, of dealing with criminals has been ever-changing, and at this point in time, the conviction of death by the guillotine is what allows Meursault to step back and observe life. Although being condemned to death rarely has any positive emotions associated with the accusesd, Meursault reaches the clarity we have been questioning throughout the novel when he is finally at his downfall.
