Themes: Choices and Consequences

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At the center of “The Guest” lies a choice: will Daru turn the Arab prisoner over to the police, or will he allow him to escape? Daru is disgusted by the murder the man has committed, but he also feels severely uncomfortable with the idea of escorting the prisoner to the police station in Tinguit. He even tells Balducci that he “won’t hand him over.” However, Daru is not a revolutionary at heart and does not seem to consider the possibility of helping the Arab man return home. He spends much of his time after Balducci leaves the prisoner with him hoping that the man will escape and take the decision out of Daru's hands. Daru wishes to remain neutral, but when Balducci forcibly casts him as a prison guard, he must choose between his sense of honor and his loyalty to the French colonial government.

Ultimately, Daru avoids making any choice at all. However, this solution proves equally damaging, alienating him from both sides of the emerging conflict between the French and the native Arab population. Though Daru acts according to his moral code, he fails to recognize that—regardless of who makes it—a choice must be made regarding the prisoner’s fate. Although he allows the Arab prisoner to make his own choice, Daru has also already claimed responsibility for the man by signing the paperwork Balducci gave him. He spares himself the emotional burden of making the final decision, but true neutrality is impossible; both the French government and the Arab locals may still hold him accountable for the outcome.

In a way, the Arab man also seems to struggle with the notion of choice. Rather than trying to escape at any point, he passively allows Balducci and Daru to lead him around and rejects every opportunity to escape. Daru’s questions about the murder for which he is supposedly responsible seem to confuse and disturb the man, who cannot provide a motive beyond the fact that the victim “ran away.” He greets Daru’s apparent abandonment with a sense of “panic” fearful at the prospect of determining his fate. The man ultimately chooses to take the path toward Tinguit, though whether this is out of a sense of guilt, confusion, or passivity remains unclear.

Expert Q&A

What is the moral of the story "The Guest"?

Read as a work of existentialism, the moral of "The Guest" is that neutrality is impossible for a human being to achieve. Daru, the protagonist, does not want to take a side in the political situation that surrounds him, but his actions nevertheless commit him.

Why does Daru allow the Arab to escape, and why doesn't the Arab take the road to his lands?

Daru doesn't want to be responsible for the prisoner's incarceration. He also has no way of knowing if the prisoner is guilty of what he's been charged with.

Why did the Arab choose to stay despite having a chance to escape in "The Guest"?

Many people have asked about the Arab's motives. Some say that he had a sense of honor, and could not see himself living in hiding from his enemies. Others believe that he was a man of peace, and felt that he had done wrong in killing the men who killed his son. The story ends with him walking to the police station—although we can never know if this is true, we can assume that he may have felt it right to do so, perhaps with resignation or redemption in his heart. Question 5: In Camus' "Winter Wind," Meursault describes himself as a man without feelings—he feels little pain when Marie dies; indeed, he studies her body and imagines her funeral without much emotion.

Was Daru in "The Guest" a hero and did he have a choice in his actions?

Daru exhibits heroic traits by treating the Arab prisoner with dignity, providing him choices, and showing loyalty to his students. However, his reluctance to be involved and desire to remain neutral detract from his heroism. Daru believes he has no choice but ultimately has options: to deliver the prisoner to the tribe or the police. His failure to choose reflects his internal conflict and desire to avoid responsibility, leading to his bitterness and misunderstanding.

Why doesn't Daru turn the Arab over to authorities in "The Guest" by Albert Camus?

Daru decides to give the prisoner the chance to escape. He leaves him alone through the night. However, in the morning the prisoner is still there. Regardless of the policeman’s opinion, the Arab understands his situation, accepts his consequences, and with honor, awaits his fate. Darau begins to feel a connection to his guest. He does not like that the Arab has committed a crime, but neither does he like how the Arab is treated. Daru decides to treat the Arab with respect and as a guest in his house .With language barrier , the Arab does not understood what is happening .He did not know that Daru had been given responsibility of delivering him to officials .

What does The Guest reveal about good, evil, and moral choice?

The story highlights the nature of moral choice, a situation Camus describes as “absurd.” No choice is necessarily the right choice, because the universe itself is irrational. Nevertheless, taking responsibility for our actions is imperative to live an authentic, moral life. This is the dilemma that Camus explores in “The Guest.

Do you agree with Daru's and the Arab's choices in "The Guest"?

In "The Guest," Daru's and the Arab's choices reflect their moral dilemmas and personal codes of honor. Daru refuses to deliver the Arab to the authorities, believing it is not his responsibility and contrary to his values. He provides the Arab with means to escape, respecting his autonomy. The Arab, given the chance for freedom, chooses to leave, respecting Daru's civility. Both decisions align with their sense of honor, suggesting they made the right choices.

Why does Balducci think Daru is "a little cracked" and why does he give Daru freedom of choice?

Balducci thinks Daru is "a little cracked" because Daru refuses to restrain the Arab's hands and keeps his shotgun in a trunk, indicating a non-conformity to wartime expectations. Balducci gives Daru freedom of choice because he trusts Daru's character and honesty, as he is a local and a man of integrity. Balducci's focus on bureaucratic procedures over coercion also reflects his character and the setting's complexity amidst French-Arab conflict.

What do Daru's actions in "The Guest" reveal about his beliefs or philosophy?

Daru's actions reveal his existential beliefs and moral ambivalence. He refuses to hand over the Arab prisoner to the authorities, despite acknowledging the crime, because he finds it dishonorable to impose French law on the Arab. Daru respects cultural differences and seeks authenticity by leaving the Arab's fate to him. This reflects his struggle with external pressures and his rejection of imposed "brotherhood," highlighting his belief in the absurdity and isolation of human existence.

Daru's character in "The Guest" reflects France's plight and the nature of moral choice

Daru's character in "The Guest" symbolizes France's complex situation and the challenges of moral decision-making. His internal conflict about whether to turn in an Arab prisoner reflects the broader colonial tensions and the struggle between duty and personal ethics, mirroring France's own moral dilemmas during its colonial period.

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