In this semester, we have encountered various characters who were living by default - not doing anything productive, simply living because that was the state they were in. Many of these characters either grow out of this state or wither into it. Both Meursault and Milkman would be classic examples of switching off autopilot setting and switching on manual.
Meursault has no goal in life, living simply according to his whims. He wastes a Sunday away on a balcony, jumps on a truck with his friend like grade school boys, and interacts with Marie with no intent of pursuing any relationship. His desire to live is stirred only after he takes a life, when he realizes that the life he squandered away will soon be cut short.
Milkman's transformation is slightly different. A thirty-three year old man stuck with the mentality of a teenager, as his life has been planned out for him, his change is catalyzed by this bestowed quest (by his father) to find a sack of gold. However, Milkman has no immediate change like Meursault - his transformation is being gradually revealed during his quest, turning the eternal teenager into an adult who can fend for himself.
Both Meursault and Milkman had experiences which caused them to fight for their lives, reinforcing their will to live. On the other hand, Antionette is one who is forced into living by default - a bug in the system, of sorts. At the beginning, although estranged from most and a bit apathetic, she has various goals - wanting to be closer to Christophine, being friends with Tia, making her mother not hate her. She blossoms after meeting Rochester, becoming a lively, vivacious young woman who has a plethora of things she wants to do - get to know Rochester, introduce him to the island, and maintain her relationship with Christophine. However, her will to live seems to break after numerous misunderstandings and conflicts with her husband, setting her into a strange cycle of doing nothing (default living state) and going crazy.
Or is Antionette living by default, even before, and is forced into a cycle of madness by Rochester? Both Meursault and Milkman, even upon death's door (literally for Milkman), seem to hold little regard for their lives. Antionette is the same, yet different. There is the scene with Tia at the pool; she certainly cares then, but when later Tia throws the rock, Antionette seems to shut down or be indifferent. Or is Antionette's living by default different from Meursault and Milkman?
Great observation! This is an interesting connection between three of the main characters we've encountered. But I agree that Antoinette seems different- we observe her transition towards eventual madness, whereas Meursault is always in this "default" mode, and Milkman's character kind of starts there and cares more towards the end of the novel.
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