Existentialism 101 Short Story

Imagine being able to do whatever you want, with the only consequences being living with your own decisions. Sounds like freedom, right? Surprisingly, it’s not as good as it sounds. The article “Existentialism 101” describes a philosophy in which each person creates their own moral code and are defined by the choices they make. The short story “The Guest” is about a man who gives a prisoner the choice of being free or going to jail. “The Guest” illustrates the philosophy written about in “Existentialism 101” in various ways throughout the story. In “The Guest”, Daru can be seen as an existentialist. He gives the Arab the option of making his own choice of how he should deal with the crime he has committed. Daru says to the Arab prisoner, after telling him both the directions to the city where he will be arrested for his crimes, and directions to the pasturelands where he can be free, “No, be quiet. Now I’m leaving you” (Camus, 1957). He believes that the Arab should be able to decide how he must be …show more content…
The Arab was so terrified of the freedom he was presented with that he would rather be punished in prison. As believed by existentialists, “man [woman] is condemned to be free” (Sartre, 1957). Although Daru allows the Arab to make an existentialist choice, and is disappointed when he doesn’t choose freedom, the ending is ironic as Daru is also afraid of being free as he returns to his schoolhouse alone. Overall, “The Guest” showcases the philosophy explained in “Existentialism 101” throughout various points in the story. Daru acts as an existentialist, and is compared to Balducci, who is not. The Arab must make an existentialist choice, and ultimately chooses prison due to fear. Sometimes the idea of coming to terms with what you have done is so terrible, the idea of punishment almost sounds