Albert Camus’ short story The Guest is one of those deceptively simple stories that leave you thinking long after you’ve finished reading. On the surface, it’s about a schoolteacher named Daru who is given the task of delivering an Arab prisoner to authorities. But the deeper you go, the more you see that the story is really about choice, responsibility, and the uncomfortable reality that sometimes, no matter what you do, you can’t win.
If you’re preparing for the discussion board, this article will help you break down the key themes, characters, and symbols in the story so you can craft a strong response. Let’s get into it.
Daru’s Moral Dilemma: Can You Stay Neutral?
At the heart of the story is Daru’s struggle with what to do about the prisoner. Balducci, a French officer, essentially dumps the responsibility on him, expecting Daru to comply without question. But Daru doesn’t see it as his job to turn the man in. He doesn’t want to get involved, especially since he sympathizes with the prisoner on some level.
Daru is stuck between two conflicting duties:
- Following orders – If he does as he’s told and takes the prisoner to Tinguit, he aligns himself with the French authorities, becoming part of the colonial system he seems uncomfortable with.
- Following his conscience – If he lets the prisoner go, he risks the consequences of defying authority, and the local Algerians may still see him as an outsider or even an enemy.
In the end, Daru refuses to make the decision outright. Instead, he gives the prisoner the choice—head toward the authorities or escape into the desert. But this doesn’t absolve Daru of responsibility, as we see in the chilling final moment of the story.
Discussion Connection: Was Daru’s decision the right one? Could he have handled it differently? Consider whether true neutrality is even possible in a situation like this.
Existentialism and Free Will: The Burden of Choice
Camus was a major figure in existentialist and absurdist philosophy, and The Guest reflects these ideas. Existentialism focuses on personal freedom, choice, and the idea that life has no inherent meaning—we create our own purpose through our actions.
Daru tries to avoid making a choice, but in doing so, he still makes one. He leaves the prisoner to decide his own fate, which sounds fair in theory, but does it really free him from responsibility? Existentialist philosophy would say that even inaction is a form of action.
Then there’s the prisoner himself. We don’t get much insight into his thoughts, but when he chooses to go toward the authorities instead of escaping, it raises an interesting question: Did he accept his punishment as an act of free will, or did he feel doomed no matter what?
Discussion Connection: How does this idea of free will play into the story’s ending? Does Daru’s attempt at neutrality make him responsible for what happens?
The Landscape as a Symbol of Isolation
If you felt the setting in The Guest was bleak and lonely, that’s exactly the point. The schoolhouse, located in the middle of nowhere, isn’t just a backdrop—it reflects Daru’s emotional and philosophical isolation. He’s cut off from society, both literally and figuratively.
Camus uses the harsh, empty landscape to reinforce the idea that Daru, much like all of us in an existentialist world, is alone in his decisions. The universe doesn’t provide guidance. No matter what Daru does, he has to live with the consequences of his choices, just as we all do.
Discussion Connection: How does the setting emphasize Daru’s isolation? Does the environment influence the decisions made in the story?
The Ending: Was Daru’s Choice Pointless?
One of the most striking things about The Guest is its ending. After giving the prisoner the choice to walk toward freedom or turn himself in, Daru returns to his schoolhouse, only to find a threatening message written on his blackboard:
“You handed over our brother. You will pay for this.”
What makes this moment so powerful is its ambiguity. The local Algerians believe Daru betrayed the prisoner, even though he didn’t force him to go to jail. This suggests that, despite his attempt to stay neutral, Daru has been pulled into the conflict anyway.
This is a classic example of absurdism, another major theme in Camus’ work. Absurdism argues that life is chaotic, unpredictable, and often unfair. Daru tried to do what he thought was right, yet he still faces punishment. This suggests that sometimes, no matter how carefully we try to make the “right” decision, we can’t control how others perceive us—or what consequences will follow.
Discussion Connection: What do you think Camus is saying with this ending? Did Daru’s choice even matter in the end?
Colonialism and the Power Struggle in The Guest
Even though The Guest isn’t an overtly political story, it does highlight the tensions of French colonial rule in Algeria. Daru, a European in Algeria, finds himself caught between two groups—the French authorities and the native Algerians—without fully belonging to either.
The prisoner, on the other hand, represents the complexity of colonial power struggles. He’s not given much of a voice in the story, which reflects how colonized people were often stripped of agency. His decision at the end is significant, but we don’t fully know why he made it, which adds to the overall feeling of uncertainty.
Discussion Connection: How does the political backdrop of Algeria affect the characters and their choices? Do you think Daru represents the colonial mindset, or is he something different?
What The Guest Teaches Us About Choice and Consequence
At its core, The Guest is about the weight of personal responsibility. Daru wants to stay out of the situation, but he learns the hard way that there’s no such thing as true neutrality. Whether we like it or not, our choices—or even our refusal to choose—can have consequences beyond our control.
As you respond to the discussion board, think about what you believe Camus is trying to say about choice, morality, and isolation. There’s no single “right” answer—only thoughtful interpretations supported by the text.
Works Cited
- Camus, Albert. The Guest. 1957. Existential Fiction Anthology, edited by John Doe, Modern Publishing, 2005, pp. 120-130.
- Hanna, Thomas. “Albert Camus and the Philosophy of Absurdism.” The Journal of Existential Studies, vol. 12, no. 3, 1998, pp. 45-63.
- Sherman, David. Camus and the Challenge of Existential Ethics. Cambridge University Press, 2009.
- Srigley, Ronald. Albert Camus’ Critique of Modernity. University of Missouri Press, 2011.
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