This document compares and contrasts the characters of Mersault from The Stranger and Haley Graham from Stick It. Both characters seem apathetic and careless, rejecting opportunities to advance their careers and live more exciting lives. However, they are committed to staying true to themselves, even when it offends others or would be more convenient to conform. Though they appear not to care about anything, both value maintaining their honest identity over pleasing others or gaining ambition. The analysis finds they are not simply rebelling but care deeply about authentic self-expression.

1. Kaitlin Sweeney
ENG 230
November 17, 2011
Slaughterhouse Assignment
I’m not sure how the idea came to me, but upon reading The Stranger I realized
that Mersault and Haley Graham from Stick It are characters that paralleleach other.
Although they have very different lifestyles, their personalities are very similar. In the
beginning of the novel/movie one is called to question if there is anything either of them
actually care about. They seem to be disastrous characters with no ambition, however, as
the novel/book continues, something else makes theses characters stand out; their
nonconformity and their devotion to their true self.
Mersaut is offered a promotion where he would be able to live in Paris and travel
around for part of the year. His boss tells him “you’re young and it seems to me it’s the
kind of life that would appeal to you.” (Camus 41) Much to his surprise, Mersault denies
the promotion saying that he is happy where he is and he is not interested in a change in
his life. He goes on to say that he used to have ambitions like that, but when he had to
give up studies he realized that none of it really mattered. His nonchalant, careless
attitude seems to be a consistent theme for him throughout the entirety of the novel.
Haley Graham, the main character in Stick It, believes the same thing. She is a
natural born athlete who went to the world championship for gymnastics. After walking
out in the middle of the competition, she quit gymnastics and went off the deep end. She
dropped out of high school, got her GED, and evengot in trouble with the law. None of it

2. bothered her. She is just as happy with her life now as she was when she was a star
gymnast. She, much like Mersault, seems to be extremely careless about her life and the
events that take place.
Nothing seems to matter for Haley or Mersault. Neither of them seem to care
about anything much less going to jail. In fact, they do not even feel guilty about the
crimes they committed and neither of themmake a case for themselves in court. Haley
even claimsshe would rather go to jail than be enrolled in an elite gymnastics program,
which is her alternative to prison. In the business world, Mersault could get a job
promotion and live in Paris. For a single man with such a monotonous life, Paris seems
like a big break. However,Mersault enjoys the life he has now just the same and gives up
opportunity for monotony. In the gymnastics world, Haley would get a second shot at the
world championship and avoid prison. The chance to go to world championships is a
something that gymnasts spend their lives training for yet Haley would rather go to jail.
Both characters; however, are committed to being their true selves. They are
bluntly honest, even when it offends people. It hurts Marie’s feelings when Mersaultsays
that he does not think he loves her. In the same way,other gymnasts are offended when
Haley mocks their dreams. When forced to train again she makes fun of what other girls
devote their lives to.They both have this attitude of “I’ve been there and it does not
matter in the long run”. By following their character and always being honest, these
characters meet much resistance.
One might question if “it doesn’t matter”, why don’t these characters go along
with the crowd? Why doesn’t Mersault just lie to Marie and tell her that he loves her?
Why doesn’t Haley just lie to the girls and tell them that she would give anything to go

3. back to the world championship and that her biggest regret was walking out? Although it
seems like neither care about anything, there is one thing they both care about deeply:
staying true to their character, even when it would be more convenient for them to
conform to other’s expectations.
In comparing these two characters, Mersault becomes a more respectable
character, likewise we are able to see that there is more to Haley than a rebellious,
apathetic teenager. We are ableto understandthe reasons she lost her ambition and that
there are things that can bring it back. She gives us hope that there might be more to
Mersault’s character as well. While both begin their story seeming to simply rebel for the
sake of rebelling and not caring about anything, we see later, especially in Haley’s life,
that this is not necessarily the case. Both care deeply about staying true to one’s self and
while to others this comes off as carelessness, their identity is what they appear to care
most about.

4. Works Cited
Camus, Albert. The Stranger. New York: Random House Inc,. 1989. Print