Here's a paper that I did, on the Outsider. Needless to say this is not for someone
to just copy it, but for those people who haven't read the book and Should do so quickly.
Just to give you an idea. And also btw, don't take the time to grade it... even my english teacher didn't.. :o)
Discuss the significance of the quote in chapter 3, "But Raymond told me that he didn't feel capable of writing the kind of letter that was needed and he thought I might draft it for him. When I didn't say anything, he asked if I'd mind doing it right away and I said no."
Albert Camus, through this quote has introduced to the readers, a different trait in his main character, Meursault. So far in the book, we have seen Meursault acting almost insenstive in his approach to the rest of the characters in the book. Also, Meursault seems to respond to circumstances in a way, which seems to compliment the famous saying "take life as it comes". While most people get this basic idea of this saying right, the only problem occurs when characters like Meursault materialize in real life. Camus's contemporary Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, calls this an "either/or" situation. Kieeregaard also enforces that it is very important in such situations to make any choice a "concious" thought. Camus, reiterates this philosophy through this scene and the many others in the book. Meursault always ends up responding to the situations spontaneously, and almost always reacts to it by just going with the flow. Some people look at it as Camus introducing the readers to another facet of Meursault, while others think this is something that has been evident throughout the book in his actions, the only difference being that until now it was attributed to his indifference. Till one stumble over this quote one would, going by what the other characters think, portray Meursault as a selfish and insensitive man. Yet, this quote tells us that Meursault is forthcoming in the sense that he doesn't refuse giving help. Although he doesn't seem to expect to take it as any sort of help. Supposedly, to him, this, like everything in his life, is just another happening and he thinks nothing more of it.
