Comparing Camus The Stranger And Daoud's Meurs

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Recommended: Morality in literature

Different cultures express various attitudes and beliefs on the basis of what is deemed moral. In the excerpts from Camus The Stranger, and Daoud’s Meursault Investigation, the central characters have contradictory viewpoints to that of their own cultures. Even though they are different cultures, both cultures have a mirrored view on death, murder, and justice. Whereas the French base the issue on religious purity, the Algerians base the verdict on nationalistic pride. Due to an existentialist view on life Meursault was always a stranger to understanding how important religion was to his culture. In his trial that is proven as Meursault observes, “He took out a silver crucifix which he brandished as he came toward me. And in a completely different, almost cracked voice, he shouted, "Do you know what this is?" (68). The magistrate whips out his weapon the crucifix as a last attempt to persuade Meursault to justice in the form of submitting to god. However the magistrate …show more content…

However the Arab in the story does not show dissent to his former oppressor the French. Which is unusual given his culture, and is much to the dismay of the colonel. The Arab recalls, “Then he launched into a patriotic rant, reiterating his faith in his independent country and in the sacrifice made by one and a half million martyrs” (11-13). In his speech the colonel emphasizes his woes by comparing his former country men to martyrs. A claim that is justified to him given that the army fought a war for Algiers. The colonel then asserts, “we weren’t murderers but liberators” (17). This phrase most likely was a code of chivalry for the soldiers, but later became infused in the Algerian people. As a result of the colonialism they endured the Algerian culture led to a hardening that won them autonomy. Consequently leading them to be ever so prideful over accomplishing a battle versus

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