One Foot In Eden Vs. The Stranger

The novels One Foot in Eden and The Stranger are very diverse novels, but share one common scene, a murder scene. In One Foot in Eden, Holland Winchester is murdered by Billy Holcombe, who tries to solve the problem of his wife committing adultery with Holland. In The Stranger, Mersault kills an Arab who has just stabbed his friend, more like acquaintance. The fundamental difference between the murderers in the murder scenes in One Foot in Eden and The Stranger is their outlook on life.

Meursault's existentialist outlook tells him that there is no real meaning in life and its significance lies in living itself. Understanding his outlook in life helps you better perceive the murder scene. The Arab draws his knife and holds it up to Meursault, but the ironic thing is that this does not bother Meursault. It was the sunlight in his eye that reflected off the Arabs knife and the intense heat along with the salt from his sweat in his eyes that is nuisance to him. Meursault shot the Arab because he was uncomfortable and annoyed, not because he felt threatened or to protect his friend.

Meursault seems to clutch the trigger without intent. There does not appear to be much thought that went behind Meursault's actions. He realizes that he has shattered his happy harmonious life. Camus' detailed description of the murder scene helps you get the best feel for Meursault's feelings right before the bullets left the gun:

The scorching blade slashed at my eyelashes and stabbed at my stinging eyes. That's when everything began to reel. The sea carried up a thick, fiery breath. It seemed to me as if the sky split open from one end to the other to rain down fire. My whole being tensed and I squeezed my hand around the revolver. The trigger gave; I felt the smooth underside of the butt; and there, in that noise, sharp and deafening at the same time, is where it all started. I shook off the sweat and sun. I knew that I had