Human Isolation And Morality In Albert Camus The Guest

Based on the given details about the Arab prisoner and Daru, the school master, The Guest's theme and ideas center around the worldview of existentialism and the human condition. In the beginning of “The Guest”, the story describes Daru’s refusal to take the prisoner to his destination. (pg. 30; Exile and The Kingdom) Albert Camus, the author of “The Guest”, emphasizes some existential traits in Daru’s character: Daru chooses how to handle the situation with the prisoner and declines Baldacci’s orders to take him to the police headquarters. In addition, on pg. 38 of “Exile and the Kingdom” shows that the prisoner is given a choice to go to the police or live peacefully with the nomads. Thus, Camus also emphasizes some existential traits on the Arab prisoner. In addition, the human condition plays a part in “The Guest” because it describes the isolation Daru goes through and the morality Daru invokes. These ideas of human isolation and morality play an important role in …show more content…
In “The Guest”, it is shown that Daru lives alone in the school on the top of the plateau. He is isolated from everyone else, but he is satisfied with his living conditions. On pg. 29 of “Exile and the Kingdom” it says this, “In contrast with such poverty, he who lived al-most like a monk in his remote schoolhouse, nonetheless satisfied with the little he had and with the rough life, had felt like a lord with his white-washed walls, his narrow couch, his unpainted shelves, his well, and his weekly provision of water and food.” These details from the short story gives the reader the impression that Daru choose this life of isolation and solitude. Daru’s choices originate from his existential personality: he exists as a free individual and determines his own development as a human being. Also, Daru sympathizes with the prisoner, taking care of him and allowing him to make his own