Journal #5-The Stranger

I believe Camus creates two parts to The Stranger because of the personality traits of Mersault that differ between Parts. In Part 1, Mersault becomes complacent in his day to day life and he doesn't take advantage of any of his choices as a free man. We notice in Part 1 how Mersault doesn't see any importance in others or his own life and he believes in a way that there is no point to life--a view we know as existentialism. Mersault never uses any heavy describing words when describing people or life and in the way he narrates the book gives off a careless attitude. In Part 2, Mersault starts giving more thought in his day to day life which keeps him from boredom. He realizes that he could've created meaning to his life and his thought of life is still not completely careless but when he realizes he is going to die, he falls back into the pit of complacency and his existentialist attitude gets the best of him. Comparing Part 1 and Part 2 we discover that Mersault uses the contrast of the two parts to highlight the difference of a free Mersaults thoughts and a restrained Mersaults thoughts and beliefs on life.