Publication
Max Hueber Verlag (1998)
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Description
An Algerian schoolteacher develops a strange alliance with the Arab prisoner temporarily left in his charge, giving him the chance to select his own destiny.
User reviews
LibraryThing member IonaS
The protagonist in this story is a schoolteacher, Daru, living in a schoolhouse at the top of a hillside.
As far as I understand, the story takes place in Algeria where Camus grew up.
The land is covered with snow.
Daru sees two men and a horse ascending the hillside.
The horseman was Balducci, an
Balducci asks Daru to deliver the Arab to police headquarters in TANGUIT.
But Daru says it’s not his job to do so.
The Arab has a “restless and rebellious” look about him.
There is talk of a forthcoming revolt.
Daru too has an obstinate look.
Daru lived on “a solitary expanse where nothing had any connection with man”.
The Arab had killed his cousin but later when asked cannot give a reasonable explanation as to why.
Daru felt a sudden wrath against them all, against all men with their rotten spite, their tireless hates, their blood lust.
Daru tells Balducci he will not turn over the man. Balducci replies that it’s an order – he has to do it.
He gives Daru a revolver.
It was a solitary, silent wasteland “peopled only by stones”.
“No one in this desert, neither he nor his guest, mattered.”
But neither of them could have lived elsewhere.
Daru makes food for them, a “cake" and an omelette.
He gives the prisoner a camp bed to sleep on perpendicular to his own.
The presence of the other bothered him “by imposing on him a sort of brotherhood he knew well but refused to accept in the present circumstances”.
Daru had sent the gendarme off “in a way as if he didn’t want to be associated with him”. He felt “strangely empty and vulnerable”.
He was revolted by the prisoner’s “stupid crime”” but to hand him over was contrary to honor”.
He cursed both his own people who had sent him the Arab and also the Arab who had not managed to get away.
In the morning, he made a package of pieces of rusk, dates and sugar, and walked towards the east followed by the Arab.
The snow was melting faster and faster. A bird let out a joyful cry, Daru felt “a sort of rapture”” before the vast familiar expanse”. The landscape had a chaotic look. (Daru’s feelings must have been chaotic.)
They came to a crossroads with two paths. Daru gave the Arab the food and a thousand francs. He showed him the way east to Tinguit and the police and told him they were expecting him. He also showed him a path to the south which led to pasturelands and nomads. They’ll take you in and shelter you according to their law”.
The Arab looked panicky. He evidently wanted Daru to come with him.
Daru walked home but later looked back and saw the Arab walking slowly on the road to the prison.
When he got back to his classroom, Daru found a message on the blackboard that said “You handed over our brother. You must pay for this.”
“He was alone.”
So the Arab was treated kindly by the schoolmaster and given food and the choice of freedom. The latter did the right thing according to his conscience.
But the Arab did not choose freedom but punishment, which would perhaps be the death penalty, we’re not told.
Nonetheless, the schoolmaster will probaby be killed by the Arab’s friends/family.
Camus seems to be saying “Such are the vagaries of life. There is no justice.”
As regards the title, “The guest”, Daru had treated the prisoner as a guest, plying him with food and kindness, and offering him freedom, but apparently the latter does not dare to accept freedom, or feels he should be punished.
As far as I understand, the story takes place in Algeria where Camus grew up.
The land is covered with snow.
Daru sees two men and a horse ascending the hillside.
The horseman was Balducci, an
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old gendarme. The other man with hands bound and lowered head was an Arab, tied to Balducci with a rope. Balducci asks Daru to deliver the Arab to police headquarters in TANGUIT.
But Daru says it’s not his job to do so.
The Arab has a “restless and rebellious” look about him.
There is talk of a forthcoming revolt.
Daru too has an obstinate look.
Daru lived on “a solitary expanse where nothing had any connection with man”.
The Arab had killed his cousin but later when asked cannot give a reasonable explanation as to why.
Daru felt a sudden wrath against them all, against all men with their rotten spite, their tireless hates, their blood lust.
Daru tells Balducci he will not turn over the man. Balducci replies that it’s an order – he has to do it.
He gives Daru a revolver.
It was a solitary, silent wasteland “peopled only by stones”.
“No one in this desert, neither he nor his guest, mattered.”
But neither of them could have lived elsewhere.
Daru makes food for them, a “cake" and an omelette.
He gives the prisoner a camp bed to sleep on perpendicular to his own.
The presence of the other bothered him “by imposing on him a sort of brotherhood he knew well but refused to accept in the present circumstances”.
Daru had sent the gendarme off “in a way as if he didn’t want to be associated with him”. He felt “strangely empty and vulnerable”.
He was revolted by the prisoner’s “stupid crime”” but to hand him over was contrary to honor”.
He cursed both his own people who had sent him the Arab and also the Arab who had not managed to get away.
In the morning, he made a package of pieces of rusk, dates and sugar, and walked towards the east followed by the Arab.
The snow was melting faster and faster. A bird let out a joyful cry, Daru felt “a sort of rapture”” before the vast familiar expanse”. The landscape had a chaotic look. (Daru’s feelings must have been chaotic.)
They came to a crossroads with two paths. Daru gave the Arab the food and a thousand francs. He showed him the way east to Tinguit and the police and told him they were expecting him. He also showed him a path to the south which led to pasturelands and nomads. They’ll take you in and shelter you according to their law”.
The Arab looked panicky. He evidently wanted Daru to come with him.
Daru walked home but later looked back and saw the Arab walking slowly on the road to the prison.
When he got back to his classroom, Daru found a message on the blackboard that said “You handed over our brother. You must pay for this.”
“He was alone.”
So the Arab was treated kindly by the schoolmaster and given food and the choice of freedom. The latter did the right thing according to his conscience.
But the Arab did not choose freedom but punishment, which would perhaps be the death penalty, we’re not told.
Nonetheless, the schoolmaster will probaby be killed by the Arab’s friends/family.
Camus seems to be saying “Such are the vagaries of life. There is no justice.”
As regards the title, “The guest”, Daru had treated the prisoner as a guest, plying him with food and kindness, and offering him freedom, but apparently the latter does not dare to accept freedom, or feels he should be punished.
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Original language
French
ISBN
9783190002245
Physical description
6.54 inches