Moral Issues in Wonderful Fool and The Outsider

carpenter" and "the son of Mary" (Mark 6:3). Similarly, Gaston is consistently labeled as a "foreigner" and fails to assimilate into Tokyo. Tomoe encapsulates his rejection when she expresses resentment towards him being brought into their home, calling him a "fool" (Endo 51).

The presence of the man in her house was not appreciated by her. Gaston, like Christ, befriends the outcasts of society such as prostitutes, murderers, and stray dogs. He shows selflessness and patience, even attempting to befriend his attacker. Despite any tricks, he is unable to hate those who persecute him, similar to Christ who forgave his taunters on the cross (Endo 83).

In Shusaku Endo’s work, the character Gaston is portrayed as morally good due to his self-sacrificing and unconditional ‘childlike faith’ (Psalm 116:6) in the goodness of people, which is similar to Jesus. As a foil for Gaston, Endo uses his character to showcase the individualistic nature of Japanese society, which he disapproves of. By contrasting Gaston’s selflessness against the gloom of Japanese hedonism, Endo conveys a positive image of Gaston’s altruism while highlighting the self-seeking nature of Japan. This contrast is seen through the responses of other characters towards Gaston as well as the scenes in which his tale is told.

Gaston's actions are met with distaste by the other characters in the novel. When he gave food to the dog from his own plate, Tomoe and Matchan reacted with disgust (Endo 51). Despite Gaston's act of kindness, they disapproved. This contrast between what is ideal (represented by Gaston) and the reality of Japanese society displays Shusaku Endo's condemnation of the judgemental society that Japan had become. The contrast is also apparent

in the scene at "Hilltop Hotel," a brothel, and the incident at Sanya where "even the police...close their eyes to."

According to Endo (115), locations where "prostitution" and "extortion, theft and other such crimes flourish" are where Gaston's story unfolds. The writer portrays these places as hedonistic, dark and cruel, making Gaston's kindness and compassion more evident as he unintentionally assists a prostitute in need. In addition, Gaston is depicted alongside a murderer named Endo (118), who displays Japanese characteristics of being self-serving and unconcerned about Gaston's well-being.

The response of Gaston to Endo's aggression is one of concern for him and not worry for himself. This highlights the contrast between Endo's selfishness and Gaston's unselfishness, emphasizing the idea of Japanese being too egotistical. Albert Camus also shares this approach in his principal character, Meursault, who is an outsider and apathetically goes about life as implied by the title.

The societal conventions do not seem to trouble Meursault. Instead of acknowledging the gravity of his mother's death, Meursault showed indifference towards it and focused more on the logistics and date. "Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday...I'll come back tomorrow." (Camus 9)

Despite not being entirely apathetic, truth holds immense value to Meursault. Similar to Gaston, he remains steadfast in his principles and preserves impartiality without any concessions, resulting in his genuineness and veracity. In the conclusion, when given the chance to spare his life in return for his acknowledgment of God, Meursault declines. He quotes, "...with God's help he would do something for me" (Camus 67), and questions Meursault's faith by asking if he believes in God.

Meursault's uncompromising belief system is exemplified by his

refusal to hire a lawyer or compromise in any way during his trial. As he states, "I could answer for myself" (Camus 66). Meursault's dedication to his own honesty drives him to act almost as a martyr, valuing his beliefs over self-preservation. Due to his non-conformist nature, he fundamentally lacks understanding of societal norms. (Camus 68).

This text explores how individuals in a judgmental society are required to assimilate into the society's belief system. Meursault and Gaston abide by their own consistent conduct without lying, which leads Meursault to view himself as moral. Camus, like Shusaku Endo, uses the idealized character of Meursault to reveal flaws in society. Meursault's objectivity underscores the absurdity of society; he believes murder is murder, no matter the circumstances. During his trial, Meursault's lawyer asks if he's being charged with burying his mother or killing a man (Camus 93).

The idea conveyed is that Meursault is being judged by the court and society for revealing the negative aspects of a criminal's character instead of punishing him for the impulsive killing. The act was not pre-meditated but driven by a strong emotional urge. Despite speaking the truth, Meursault's ethical beliefs are not acknowledged by the prevailing legal system. (Camus 96; 60).

Despite society's view that murder is immoral, Meursault sees no shame in his own action, which was not motivated by malice. This non-conformity ultimately leads to his conviction, with Camus noting that "the hero of the book is condemned because he doesn't play the game" (Camus 118) in the Afterword. Meursault's decision to pull the trigger was driven by the tension of the moment and not by a desire for revenge or

hatred towards the Arab. While individuals' morality may be a personal code of conduct, when considering a broader societal perspective, such beliefs can be categorized as 'ethics'.

Camus creates a character who remains true to his own beliefs, even though his actions may be considered unethical. The author skillfully portrays the conflict between a character's personal beliefs and those of society, making it a compelling read. Both authors use characterization to explore moral issues such as honesty, consistency, and non-conformity, supporting their respective viewpoints. The characters presented in the texts serve as an example of an ideal while the society they live in is portrayed as flawed. Through their characterization, both writers effectively convey the imperfections of society to their readers.

The writer presents biased information for the reader to determine what is right and wrong, leading them to perceive society as flawed and achieving the ultimate goal of conveying their message. Bibliography: Camus, Albert. The Outsider. Word Count: 1,497 words.

Joseph Laredo translated the book "Wonderful Fool" by Shusaku Endo, which was published by Penguin Books Ltd in London in 1983. The English translation was done by Francis Mathy.

The book titled "Peter Owen Publishers, London; 2002" was published.