Albert Camus’s “The Guest” is a short account of an exchange between a prisoner and a school master. Daru, a school master is tasked with the duty of taking an Arab prisoner to jail. Conflicted between his duty to his country and his morality which is against denying a man his freedom, Daru neglected to make the choice of prison or freedom for the Arab. He forces the choice on to the prisoner, who chooses jail. Presented with a choice, each character is faced with the question of what to do with the prisoner. Due to the obligation to choose, the self right of free will is non-existent. The idea of free will is not a right, but a concept to keep oneself from falling into the limbo of moral uncertainty.
This theme is first established during the confrontation with Balducci. Daru first sees Balducci, a police man, climbing a slope holding an Arab man by a rope. After a short conversation between the two, it is announced that Balducci was tasked with the order to present the Arab prisoner to Daru and return to El Ameur. Balducci admits to moral conflict by confessing “‘I don't like it either. You don't get used to putting a rope on a man even after years of it, and you're even ashamed--yes, ashamed. But you can't let them have their way.’” However, Balducci still convinces the school master by ensuring that “After that, all will be over. You’ll come back to your pupils …show more content…
Throughout the story, the Arab prisoner remains a mysterious figure. When presented early on with the question of “Why did you kill him?” He is hesitant to respond with an unclear answer. It can be determined that the Arab was in a state of confusion regarding his actions. Despite his fear of the prison, the Arab chooses to go to the authorities. The Arab’s decision to lose his freedom, fulfilled his duty as a human to serve his crime. Due to this newfound meaning in his actions, the Arab was able to carry out with his
This theme is first established during the confrontation with Balducci. Daru first sees Balducci, a police man, climbing a slope holding an Arab man by a rope. After a short conversation between the two, it is announced that Balducci was tasked with the order to present the Arab prisoner to Daru and return to El Ameur. Balducci admits to moral conflict by confessing “‘I don't like it either. You don't get used to putting a rope on a man even after years of it, and you're even ashamed--yes, ashamed. But you can't let them have their way.’” However, Balducci still convinces the school master by ensuring that “After that, all will be over. You’ll come back to your pupils …show more content…
Throughout the story, the Arab prisoner remains a mysterious figure. When presented early on with the question of “Why did you kill him?” He is hesitant to respond with an unclear answer. It can be determined that the Arab was in a state of confusion regarding his actions. Despite his fear of the prison, the Arab chooses to go to the authorities. The Arab’s decision to lose his freedom, fulfilled his duty as a human to serve his crime. Due to this newfound meaning in his actions, the Arab was able to carry out with his