Once again, another book has addressed the subject of
regrets. Now, my “big question” is why do people regret? I realize now I perhaps should have put more
consideration into my big question due to the fact that there have now been
numerous circumstances in which there is a noticeable lack of regret in the
main character. This is one of those
circumstances.
One would think, when reading a novel concerning murder,
that regret would be addressed in great detail by the author. That is not the case in the novel The
Stranger by Albert Camus. His main
character, Meursault, notably lacks not only regret, but seemingly most
emotions as well. An example of this is
when, on various occasions, his girlfriend asks if he wants to get married, to
which he continuously replies in the same way.
“I said it didn’t make any difference to me and that we could if she
wanted to.” Marriage, one of the most
momentous and emotional occasions in one’s life, is something that can’t
inspire even a hint of emotion in him. However, throughout the book, his
emotions arguably appear to shift. Quite
suddenly, the narrator begins to show that he is angry, frustrated even, with
his situation and the people around him.
This seems to be sparked by the Chaplin who comes to speak with him
before he dies. He tells the narrator, “I
am on your side. But you have no way of
knowing it, because your heart is blind.” The narrator then grabs him by his
collar. “I was pouring out on him
everything that was in my heart, cries of anger and cries of joy.” However, though he does begin to emote, there
is still seemingly no regret. “And so?.
. . Nothing, nothing mattered, and I knew why. . . What did other people’s
deaths or a mother’s love matter to me . . .? I had only to wish that there be
a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with
cries of hate.” Throughout his revelation
of sorts, he feels, and he knows. He
knows that he has no obligation to feel regret.
He has chosen his life and lived it.
What more do any of us need?
