Meursault will not pretend. After the death of his mother, everyone is shocked when he shows no sadness. And when he commits a random act of violence in Algiers, society is baffied. Why would this seemingly law-abiding bachelor do such a thing... why does he show no remorse, even when it could save his life?
His refusal to satisfy the feelings of others only increases his guilt in the eyes of the law. Soon Meursault discovers that he is being tried not simply for his crime, but for his lack of emotion
- a reaction that condemns him for being an outsider.