Meursault 's lawyer who tries to defend Meursault's character, to present his crime as an accident, and to disassociate Meursault's behavior at his mother's funeral from the murder. He is exhausted by Meursault's unyielding impassiveness and by his self-sabotaging lack of savvy about public opinion.
Here are a few other reasons lawyers defend guilty clients. Yes, as a lawyer, you have also the right to refuse any case you want, as the American Bar Association rightly points out, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Most of my clients have done something wrong, or close to it, even though they are fundamentally good people.
This is the importance of defending the defendant until the final moment. Think of it this way, when a lawyer defends their client to their best abilities. This is also done out of self-preservation. We as humans are capable of good things, but that doesn’t mean there is no place for self-interest.
Like it or not, a defense attorney’s job isn’t to determine guilt. That job is assigned to the prosecution, who is charged with doing everything within their capabilities –– and within the boundaries of the law –– to prove a defendant is guilty.
Meursault's only defense for his act was "because of the sun." That is all: "because of the sun." Meursault adds that he spoke too quickly and ran his words together; actually, what he said is of little importance for we are sure what the verdict will be.
By Albert Camus At first, Meursault finds the pleading stage and closing remarks amusing. Both lawyers plead guilty, but his attorney does it with an explanation, whereas the prosecutor does so without one. Meursault feels that all through trial, more is said about him than about the crime he committed.
Meursault's attorney tells him that it wouldn't last more than two or three days because a more interesting parricide (the murder of a family member) case is coming up after his trial. Trial opens with the sun glaring outside (surprise) and the air stifling inside.
That would be too much trouble and Meursault is not sure that it is necessary for him even to have a lawyer. He is, in fact, pleased to learn that the court will appoint a lawyer for the defense; all the bothersome details will be taken care of.
What defense did Meursault's lawyer present? Meursault's lawyer offers an interpretation of the events that led up to the crime, speaking in the first person, as though he were Meursault.
What is Meursaults complaint about the trial proceedings and especially about both the defense lawyer and the prosecuting attorney? How does he react? He finds the trial extremely boring. Can Meursaults crime be considered premeditated?
What question does Meursault's lawyer ask him about the day of the funeral? If he had felt sadness about his mother's death. What does Meursault's lawyer ask him not say in front of others? That people sometimes wish that their loved one's were dead.
The lawyer is a "small, plump, youngish man with sleek, black hair." What does Meursault's lawyer look like? He is concerned about the charge of "callousness." What charge against Meursault, besides murder, is the lawyer concerned about?
Truth. Meursault's lawyer makes a good point when he says that in this absurd trial “everything is true and nothing is true.” The truth of the matter is that Meursault shot the Arab man for no good reason and without planning the murder in advance.
Meursault feels that his lawyer defended him during the trial as best he could. he wants to spend his last minutes on earth alone and in quiet reflection. he doesn't believe in God, so this life is it.
Does Meursault feel like he has anything to say to defend himself? Lawyer told him not to say anything, he didn't know what to say anyway.
What is Meursault's first impression of the jury? He is not aware of them, he thinks he's innocent; describes them as strangers on a streetcar.