Daru made it clear that he wanted no part in delivering the Arab to meet his judgment. Before he was aware of what crime was committed by the Arab he told Balducci that it wasn’t his job to deliver prisoners. After inquiring as to what crime was committed by the Arab, he firmly declares that he will not deliver him.
Daru inquires about the nature of the crime committed by the Arab. ““After all,” he said, turning around toward Balducci, “what did he do?” And before the gendarme had opened his mouth, he asked “Does he speak French?”
“No not a word. We had been looking for him for a month, but they were hiding him. He killed his cousin.”” (Camus 2576). After learning that the Arab had killed his cousin, which led him to his present circumstance, Daru asks “Is he against us?” (Camus 2576) I’m not able to come to a conclusion as to what the meaning of this choice of question is. It almost seems like Daru has nearly dismissed the fact that the Arab has killed a man, and is more concerned about whether he is a rebel. On the other hand, he could be asking the question because he’s learned that the Arab has killed, and is wondering if he should feel threatened himself.
Balducci tells Daru the details of the murder, saying that “In short, he killed his cousin with a billhook.” (Camus 2577). “Daru felt a sudden wrath against the man, against all men with their rotten spite, their tireless hates, their blood lust” (Camus 2577). In spite of this, he still holds firm on his declaration that he will not deliver the prisoner. He even mentions the fact that he was annoyed at the fact that the Arab was stupid enough to get caught.
I also had trouble coming to the conclusion of the story. I had to read the story twice before I was able to understand the meaning. I don’t agree that Daru felt a little threatened or somewhat fearful of the Arab man because of the crime he committed. “ Seated upright in bed, he waited motionless without turning his head towards Daru, as he if here listening attentively. Daru did not stir; it has just occurred to him that the revolver was still in his drawer of his desk” (Camus 2580.) Daru seemed angry when he found out that the Arab man had killed his cousin, but still didn’t want to take him to the prison.
ReplyDeleteThe Guest was definitely a rather difficult story to completely understand. There is one than one way to interpret the way Daru acts towards the assignment that is given to him. He certainly does not seem to want to take the prisoner. It could be because he did not want to make the journey, which would take quite some time. The other possibility might very well be that he didn't know if the prisoner deserved to be turned in.
ReplyDeleteDuring his time with the prisoner, Daru might have concluded that the prisoner was a decent, honest man. After all the prisoner did have a chance to escape in the middle of the night, but he did not. The prisoner also never threatened Daru or tried to harm him. Daru even gives the prisoner a choice at the end of the story. Daru tells the prisoner how to get to the police, but he also tells him, "In a day's walk from here you'll find pasturelands and the first nomads. They'll take you in and shelter you according to their law." (Camus 2582). Daru gave the prisoner a route to escape, but the prisoner chose to turn himself in. One might say that the prisoner wasn't such a bad guy after all.