The Stranger Religion Quotes Page 3
Citations follow this format: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph). We used Matthew Ward's translation, published by Vintage International published in 1989.
| Quote #7 For the third time I’ve refused to see the chaplain. I don’t have anything to say to him; I don’t feel like talking, and I’ll be seeing him soon enough as it is. All I care about right now is escaping the machinery of justice, seeing if there’s any way out of the inevitable. (2.5.1) |
Meursault has outwardly declined the chaplain’s efforts three times. Though he accepts death to be inevitable, he does not want to give up hope for life and freedom – yet.
| Quote #8 "Why have you refused to see me?" he asked. I said that I didn’t believe in God. He wanted to know if I was sure and I said that I didn’t see any reason to ask myself that question: it seemed unimportant. (2.5.13) |
Meursault’s fight with the chaplain is not interesting because the chaplain is adamant about their opposition, where Meursault doesn’t really care.
| Quote #9 "Then God can help you," he said. "Every man I have known in your position has turned to Him." I acknowledged that that was their right. It also meant that they must have had the time for it. As for me, I didn’t want anybody’s help, and I just didn’t have the time to interest myself in what didn’t interest me. (2.5.14) |
Uninterested in relying on any external authority or source for meaning, Meursault lays bare his atheism for the chaplain to see.
