I think Camus split the book into two parts in order to empasize Mersault's new view of life. In the first part of the book, Mersault focuses on the pointlessness of physical things and decisions. In the second part Mersault begins to focus on the pointlessness of life itself.
Some supporting quotes from Part 1:
"...he had a habit of finishing everything he said with "and I'd even say," when really it didn't add anything to the meaning of his sentance[...]I didn't pay any more attention to this mannerism of his" (50) Mersault points out that Masson has a habit, but then goes straight to ignoring it, emphasizing an unnecessary feeling about it.
"It was then that I realized that you could either shoot or not shoot." (56)
"To stay or go, it amounted to the same thing." (57)
Both quotes give the feeling that no matter what the decision, there is no meaning in what you decide.
Supporting quote for part 2:
"Nothing, nothing mattered[...]What did other people's deaths or a mother's love matter to me; what did his God or the lives people choose or the fate they think they elect matter to me when we're all elected to the same fate" (121)
Mersault focuses on the pointlessness of life, how no matter how we live our lives, we all die in the end...
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