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The Stranger


             Carter, Carter defines Integrity as requiring three steps: 1) discerning what is right and wrong; 2) acting on what you have discerned, even at personal cost; 3) saying openly that you are acting on your understanding of right and wrong. I think that according to this definition, in the book The Stranger, by Albert Camus, the character Meursault, does not act with integrity. His complete indifference to life and his emotional isolation from others does not allow him to be a person of integrity. Not only does he not seem to know right from wrong, he doesn't care either.
             According to Carter, in order to act with integrity, one has to get involved, even when there is risk. Meursault does not get involved with his life. From the first words of the book, it is clear that he is so uninvolved and uncaring that he is not even sure what day his mother died. Even when he is attending his mother's funeral, he is distant and apathetic. It becomes completely apparent to the others at the home that he is devoid of emotion. He does not take part in the funeral, he is merely just a shell of a body forced to be there. .
             His indifference, even to the most sensitive and personal of matters, also shows in his relationship with Marie. It is clear that she is in love with him, but he seems to be rather indifferent. He clearly likes to be with her, but when she is not around, she is just an afterthought. During his time in prison, he hardly thinks of her at all. .
             It is hard to tell if Meursault is able to tell right from wrong. It is hard to know how he feels about being friends with Raymond. When Raymond talks about them being pals, Meursault doesn't have any feeling about it. He just knows that it doesn't bother him. When asked to write the letter to Raymond's mistress, he helps out, not once thinking about the consequences. He has no concept that Raymond might not be a good friend or a person of integrity himself.


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