The Guest

People try to help people when sometimes, no help is needed. During the 1800's, the more developed countries wished to expand and help to develop other nations. They did this by the process called imperialism. One of these developed countries was France, who imperialized Algeria. They did this for many reasons such as nationalism and the White Man's Burden. French Imperialism on Algeria was harmful during and after Algerian independence politically, socially and economically. It was harmful during because politically, the French took over Algeria by force and forced them to do their work. Socially harmful because the Algerians morals and way of life depleted. And economically because they were given jobs equal to lower class citizens, and did not help their economy. After independence, Algeria did not keep the changes that France had previously made politically, socially and economically. Making the whole process harmful to Algeria

5. This story has as its background a specific political situation - the French Algerian crisis in the years following World War II. How does Daru reflect France's plight? Is the story's meaning limited to this situation? What does the story tell us about good and evil and the nature of moral choice?

Resistance movements from the native Algerian population caused the new civil government to adopt a policy of settler superiority. This new government did not favor the Algerian people as the military regime has done in the past and instead established a system that would benefit the European minority much more than the Muslim majority. To start with, the new government sent representatives from the Algerian colony to the French parliament, but these representatives were of course French men and did not care for the native population. This in turn led into a total control of the Algerian economy and political structure by the settlers. This was part of the colonization process on the part of France which consisted of two parts, Assimilation and Association.

Algerians were once under the rule of the Ottoman empire and a lot of Algerians ended up becoming Muslim. Although the Algerian people were happy to see the end of the Ottoman rule they did not want to be under the new rule of the French government who had helped them get rid of the Ottoman. In an Article called Algeria: What were the effects of assimilation the author describes the life of Muslim Algerian natives after the French came a drove out the Ottoman Empire and the struggles Algeria faced to become independent. “By the late 19th century, colonial policies had turned Muslims into second class citizens compared to European settlers. Laws defined Algerians as subjects rather than citizens unless they agreed…”. The French that governed

Albert Camus in The Stranger demonstrates how in French-occupied Algeria, Meursault, a French colonist, is on trial for his inconsiderate behavior in regards to his mother’s death, rather than being convicted for the murder of an Arab man. Over the course of the novel, Camus illustrates how this French-colonized society frequently takes advantage of Arabs, explicitly making note of the embedded racism during 1830 to 1962. In doing so, he makes apparent the demeaning attitudes towards Arabs; whereas Meursault does not undergo any reciprocated aggression for the crime he commits, alternatively being treated as a free man. As he internally becomes accountable for his actions, Camus insinuates how the white population is not aware of the present racial inequality until put in situations similar to those oppressed.

Colonies have tried to gain their independence from imperialistic countries for hundreds of years. In the case of the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain, colonists were revolting in the streets and even armed fights with the military broke out. In The Battle of Algiers, Algerians are portrayed as untamable, radical killers from the French standpoint. From the audiences’ perspective, film maker Gillo Pontecorvo wanted to show compassion for the Algerians. He wanted to show that their actions were justified. Nevertheless, Pontecorvo also wanted to show the French point of view, which he did by showing the manner in which high-ranking French handled battle plans and the way they spoke to the FLN.

In 1830 Napoleon concord Algeria and turned it into a department of France. Algeria also became apart of the French Government and Republic. Then the civil war begun. It all started when a proclamation was made to restorate the Algerian democracy that sent attacks all over. This all quickly turned into war with civilians caught in the middle. The French wanted to stop this fighting and tried to improve the well-being for Algerians population but FLN wanted independence.

The Guest is a fun book to read about. The book identifies the friendship between a moose and a snail. The moose and the snail quickly become friends. The name of the moose is Mona and the snail’s name is Maurice. Furthermore, Mona feels lonely sometimes so when she meets Maurice the become inseparable—he keeps her company and they enjoy cooking for each other. After a while their friendship comes to a pause because Maurice leaves unannounced when he returns to his family. Maurice will surprise Mona when he brings his 20 plus family members to visit his best friend Mona. When Mona meets his family she is very happy to be with all of them and she cooks Maurice’s favorite meal, French Toast. After everyone is reunited they appear to be happy.

Camus’ The Guest and its movie Far From Men share a similar plot, but different endings. Which one do I like? The short story, as the original source, provides much of the background that would lead to its ending. However, the movie, an extended version, and facts pulled from Camus’ life, provides a similar background, with a multiple ending situations. The film version provides us more details about the two men’s lives, that the story could not, and we see the expansion of their possible friendship before their departed ways. In short, the short story and the movie have a similar plot, but provide two different types of endings.

Algeria, which is taken up mostly by the Sahara desert, was apart of the Ottoman Empire lead by Hussein Dey until France launched war due to a disagreement between a French consul and their leader. And also because of their desire to expand their empire. They seized Algiers in 1830 and came to have an intense impact on the area and its populations. Quickly France took control over the coastal communities, Dey went into exile and the Algerians were resistant up until about the 1840s and by 1847 Algeria was made a department of France.

It had all started with the French attempt to convert the native Muslims and Jews. This program was a civilizing mission attempting to convert the native religions to Christianity. This program that they had followed was based off of the three “C’s”, which are civilization, Christianity, commerce . The wars that were caused by this left deep scars throughout Algeria. Muslim status called for greater political autonomy and eventual independence from France, but it wasn't until Nov, 1 1954 when Algerians showed their first significant act of rebellion.

In the essay, Shooting an Elephant, Daru’s values are in conflict because he is told to complete a task which goes against free-will and his loyalty to the French. He is asked by French policeman, Balducci, to deliver an Arab prisoner to “Tinguit” (Camus, 4), which Daru states, “It’s not my job.” (4) to the officer. However, he still

After Daru unties the Arab’s hand, a symbol is created because Daru then releases his internal thoughts, further isolating him from society. Daru was warned by Balducci that he must follow the rules that Balducci gives him, but Daru still insists that the prisoner’s hands “might perhaps be untied” (Camus). Before this incident occurred, Daru was trying his hardest not to express his opinions due to fear of rejection. After removing the ropes from the prisoner’s hands, Daru removes all fear of self-expression and says what he believes in. Following this event, Daru was left in isolation because Balducci disagrees with what he has done.

The Battle of Algiers is a cinematic representation of the events that led up to Algerian independence. It is a reconstruction of the years 1954 to 1957 when the battle for the Algerian capital intensified as the citizens edged closer to independence . It features a variety of skirmishes between the National Liberation Front and the French colonialists. The FLN are made up of armed insurgents seeking to liberate the country and meet resistance from French authorities seeking to repel them. The film is meant to show the gore and violence that emanated from the war with both sides responsible for indiscriminate loss of life.

Algeria was not always been independent and has been a part of several border and authority changes. Since its independency, Algeria has struggled to define its cultural identity. Several strategies have been employed to gain ground on its identity, such as promoting a policy of Arabization, loosening up the economy, and opening their political sphere. “Today the Algerian government seeks not only to sustain the recent ebb in violence and insecurity but also to promote greater unity within the country” (Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, 2011).