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Consequences of Decisions Made by Characters in Camus' The Guest

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Undoubtedly, there is always a consequence to every action one makes. “The Guest,” by Albert Camus illustrates that no matter what choice someone chooses to make, or not to make, someone at some point will indisputably be affected. Throughout the story, each character is forced to make a decision at one point or another that affects someone else. This is best shown through the conflicts of the three characters, the setting, and the irony in all. “The Guest,” by Albert Camus is set at a school house that is in a secluded desert area. The first character introduced is Daru. This place at this time had just been through a long drought, and is now experiencing an extreme snowstorm. Daru lives better than most in the …show more content…

It is hard for Daru to sleep because he is so accustomed to sleeping alone. At one point during the night, the Arab woke up, and Daru thought that he might be trying to escape. Daru was kind of excited at the fact that he may be running away, but he comes to find that the Arab only wanted some water. The next morning, after feeding him, Daru takes the Arab miles away from the schoolhouse to the south. Daru gave the Arab one thousand francs and some food, and then gave him two options. He explained that he could either go one way to the prison, or the other way to a group of nomads that could take him in and shelter him. After leaving the Arab, Daru walked back up the hill to see where he went. He sees that the Arab has chosen the road to the prison. Daru traveled back to the schoolhouse. When he went into the classroom he found an anonymously written phrase on the blackboard saying, “You handed over your brother. You will pay for this” (Camus, 126). Daru then stares out the window and realizes that he is alone (Camus, 115-126). There are rich descriptions of the Algerian landscape; normally hot, dry, and harsh, but is interrupted by a terrible storm that creates a cold and “dirty snow” atmosphere. The schoolhouse is not located on the top of a hill, where the French are most likely located, nor is it located in the plains at the bottom of the hill. It is right in the middle between the two.

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