Influential Characters in The Trial and The Stranger :: essays research papers

Influential Characters The Trial and The Stranger How one character can influence the life sentence of another character. The Trial and The Stranger were both critically acclaimed since their published debut, though the books have their many differences they both deal with imprisoned lives going against society. In both novels K and Meursault had characters that influenced them in a negative and positive way, although none these characters had as much influence as the religious figure (the priests) did in both novels. However the priests in separately novel influenced the protagonists differently.In The Stranger the chaplain is sent to Meursault ahead he is representd with his death sentence to have him repent for his sins and change his religious beliefs, in other words, covert him to Christianity. However Meursault stands strong and tells him that he has zero point to repent, for he has not sinned. He does not belief in God and he believes that he is already receiving his punishment, there is no afterlife or higher(prenominal) judgment in Meursaults? beliefs. The chaplain is able to change Meursault?s mind, when he mentions ?how even the hardest of criminals stare at something at one pointing their lives and imagine a divine face in it? (Stranger, p.121). Although Meursault does not see a divine face he sees the face of Marie. This marks the turning point of Meursault?s life, for he starts to care for life something he has never done before. He is now aggravated to know that is going to die and cannot accept that which explains his rage with the priest. Camus? creates characters such as Meursault and the chaplain to contrast each other. Meursault represents an outsider and shows how life is, society does not accept those who do not act as expected even if it means that they would have to bend the fair play or hurt others in the process. The idea that Meursault does not care of his death sentence, as he shows little or no emotion of his mother?s death or of Marie proposing matrimony to him was of course is completely against the rules and ethics of society. Consequently he creates the chaplain to show Meursault how society expects him to behave, implementing the chaplain in the novel demonstrates how society acts upon those who do not meet the expected behaviors by society, it tries to change or covert them to the norms of society.