Journal #3

Why Camus split The Stranger into 2 parts
I think that Camus split his novel into two parts to show how Meursault develops as a result of the murder. In part one Meursault is a dull character that focuses mainly on the material world rather than thinking abstractly about questions such as the meaning of life. For example, "After lunch I was a little bored and I wandered around the apartment." (pg 21) Just a few days after his mother's death and he walks around his apartment bored; rather than thinking and questioning the meaning of life he focuses on the material world and what immediately impacts him. I equate this to his superego being in control of his conscious because he is thinking rational thoughts that society would support, as opposed to the id being in control of his conscious in which case he would be thinking irrational thoughts. In part two Meursault undergoes a radical change in his thinking process with the murder of the Arab and his sentencing to death. He begins to think longer, more complex thoughts, which Camus shows through the change in syntax. With these more complex thoughts comes a more involved and developed Meursault that interacts with the environment in a more abstract way. For example, "I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world." (pg 122). Meursault is in my opinion allowing his id to take over his conscious, and dictate his thoughts which allows his previously oppressed emotions to come out. I think that Camus split the novel into two parts to help the reader identify the murder as the catalyst that changed Meursault from being a person dominated by his superego to a person dominated by his id.