how does Meursault first react when the examining magistrate questions him? what stops him short of shaking the magistrate's hand?

During an examination by a court magistrate, Meursault is asked if he believes in God. He responds honestly, stating that he does not. The magistrate is stunned by this. If I remember correctly, the Magistrate was shoving a cross in his face demanding to know why he did not believe in God. He was also accusatory and generally aggressive towards Meursault.

He doesn't shake the magistrate's hand because it's common sense. Think about it. If a police officer comes up and asks if you've been drinking, believes you are lying, drags you down to the office and interrogates you, are you going to shake his hand goodbye and maybe add a "thank you"?

He felt like shaking the magistrate's hand because they had been talking peacefully. The room he had been interrogated in wasn't anything special, he might have even thought it was comfortable. :

"At first I didn’t take him quite seriously. The room in which he interviewed me was much like an ordinary sitting room..."

"I had read descriptions of such scenes in books, and at first it all seemed like a game."

These quotes were found from the first page of Part 2 Chapter 1.

He doesn't shake the magistrate's hand because it's common sense. Think about it. If a police officer comes up and asks if you've been drinking, believes you are lying, drags you down to the office and interrogates you, are you going to shake his hand goodbye and maybe add a "thank you"?

He felt like shaking the magistrate's hand because they had been talking peacefully. The room he had been interrogated in wasn't anything special, he might have even thought it was comfortable. :

"At first I didn’t take him quite seriously. The room in which he interviewed me was much like an ordinary sitting room..."

"I had read descriptions of such scenes in books, and at first it all seemed like a game."

By:

Avery Anderson

11/6/13

9 years old