The Misfit is a criminal primarily because he perceives himself as a victim of profound injustice, specifically believing he was unfairly punished by a higher power for a crime he did not commit. This conviction fuels his nihilistic worldview and justifies his disregard for human laws and morality.
Understanding The Misfit's Criminality
The Misfit's path to criminality is deeply rooted in his personal history and a radical reinterpretation of justice and suffering. His actions are not merely random acts of violence but stem from a philosophical position born out of his experiences.
The Root of His Disregard for Law
His criminal behavior originates from a claim that he was unjustly imprisoned. He states he was initially put in jail for the murder of his own father, a crime he insists he did not commit. This initial, profound injustice fundamentally altered his perspective on the world and the concept of fairness.
- Perceived Unjust Punishment: The core of his grievance is the belief that he was punished for something he did not do.
- Shift from Human Error to Divine Injustice: Initially, one might attribute such an experience to a mistake made by people or the justice system. However, The Misfit transcends this simple understanding. He comes to believe that this profound injustice was not a human error but rather a deliberate act orchestrated by God, an unfair divine punishment.
A Philosophy Shaped by Perceived Injustice
This conviction—that he was unfairly punished by God—leads him to conclude that the world itself is inherently unjust and meaningless. If divine justice is flawed, then human justice is equally arbitrary, or even more so. This belief system underpins his actions:
- Moral Relativism: He sees no inherent good or evil, only actions. His own acts of violence become justifiable in a world where he was unjustly victimized.
- Search for Proof/Meaning: His violence can be seen as a twisted search for meaning in a chaotic universe, or a way to assert control in a world that, in his view, unjustly controlled him.
Impact on His Actions
The Misfit's philosophical stance directly translates into his violent and criminal acts. His profound sense of being wronged by an ultimate authority leads him to reject societal norms and inflict his own version of "justice" or chaos upon others. He embodies a figure who, having lost faith in the traditional frameworks of right and wrong, creates his own disturbing set of rules.
