The Guest Group at eNotes

The Guest

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:20:03 PST

Why did Daru give the arab that choice at the end

Explain this phrase in the short story, "The Guest," by Albert Camus.

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:01:57 PST

Explain this phrase in the short story, "The Guest," by Albert Camus.

Summary and conclusion of "The Guest".

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:30:24 PST

Summary and conclusion of "The Guest".

Camus is interested in the existential choices of his principal...

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:25:12 PST

Camus is interested in the existential choices of his principal characters. "Guest," translated from French to English, can mean "guest" or "host." In this way, each character is both a "guest" and a "host" of the others, just as each character in Camus' most famous novel is a "Stranger." The Arabs are guests in the French-controlled country of Algeria. The Colonial French are guests of the native Arabs. Daru and Balducci are both...

What aspect of the situation was the author (Camus) principally...

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:10:08 PST

What aspect of the situation was the author (Camus) principally interested in? What are some examples of irony in the story?

Camus does not explicitly reveal his existential philosophy through his...

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:03:40 PST

Camus does not explicitly reveal his existential philosophy through his narration or his character's quotes. He sets up the story to be an existential predicament. First, look for quotes of alienation and aloneness. The rocky terrain. The barren landscape. Daru's solitary schoolhouse. The gendarme and the prisoner out in the snow. Second, look at the choices that each character is given, and how each character avoids choice. The...

What are some examples of existentialism in "The Guest" by Albert Camus?

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:39:57 PST

What are some examples of existentialism in "The Guest" by Albert Camus?

"The Guest" is set in Algeria, which was at the time a French colony, so...

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:00:34 PST

"The Guest" is set in Algeria, which was at the time a French colony, so there are three groups at play in the story: the Arab Algerians (the arab), the European-Algerians (Balducci), and the French transplants (Daru), none of which trust each other. Balducci is a gendarme, a military police officer who must obey the colonial command. He trusts Daru more that the arab. The prisoner is an Arab who has openly committed murder. In the...

What are Darus' feelings about the prisoner and about Balduccis' order?

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:04:52 PST

What are Darus' feelings about the prisoner and about Balduccis' order?

How does Camus create an environment of suspense and fear in the story?

Thu, 7 May 2009 20:01:41 PST

How does Camus create an environment of suspense and fear in the story?

what are the symbols and ironies in THE GUEST BY Albert Camus?

Thu, 7 May 2009 00:36:55 PST

what are the symbols and ironies in THE GUEST BY Albert Camus?

How does Camus create an environment of suspense and fear in the...

Fri, 1 May 2009 17:36:27 PST

How does Camus create an environment of suspense and fear in the story?

How does the political setting of the story affect the plot?

Fri, 1 May 2009 17:33:54 PST

How does the political setting of the story affect the plot?

Note the excellent summary of this story's themes at the link provided...

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:32:40 PST

Note the excellent summary of this story's themes at the link provided below. A conflict always brings choices. What choice must Daru make? To follow the French colonial system that insists he turn this Arab prisoner (who has killed his cousin) over to the French authorities. Balducci, as a representative of that system, advises Daru to follow the colonial land. Daru refuses, arguing he doesn't want to be part of a system where "every bit"...

Besides utilizing the helpful characterizations provided at the eNotes...

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:09:04 PST

Besides utilizing the helpful characterizations provided at the eNotes summary, you might begin by examining the context, or setting. Leading up to this conversation, Balducci speaks of "wartime" and how "things are brewing." In short, there is French-Arab conflict, and Daru and Balducci are the minority of French citizens who are either teaching or policing the area. Daru is expected to switch from his role as educator to role as...

Why does Balducci think that Daru has "always been a little cracked?"...

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:49:31 PST

Why does Balducci think that Daru has "always been a little cracked?" Why does Balducci give Daru freedom of choice?

What is the principal conflict in the story, and how is it resolved?

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:36:57 PST

What is the principal conflict in the story, and how is it resolved?

What is most important to Daru? Why does he feel exiled from the rest of...

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:31:49 PST

What is most important to Daru? Why does he feel exiled from the rest of the world?

In the story we read about cultivatig stone . Can we consider it as a...

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:33:08 PST

In the story we read about cultivatig stone . Can we consider it as a symbol?

a revenge note but no violence occurs in the story. In what aspect of...

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:39:33 PST

a revenge note but no violence occurs in the story. In what aspect of the situation is camus principally intrested?