Albert Camus’ Landscape in “The Guest”
...eople. There are connotations in this story. They are used to illustrate how difficult the climate is and how difficult the landscape is, by saying “they were toiling onward, making slow progress in the snow, among the stones, on the vast expanse of the high, deserted plateau” (323) when Daru is watching the two men climb toward him. Another implication used is, "Snow had suddenly fallen in mid-October after eight months of drought without the transition of rain" (324), when Daru tells us that the schoolchildren have stopped coming to school. There are many other connotations, which all help to heighten our level of understanding of this rugged and desolate location. Existentialism is a major component in this story, which is seen from the setting, which is compared to the world, where the world is portrayed as a vast, barren, unimportant place. The choices that Daru and the Arab prisoner face are not only affected by themselves, but also those outside influences. People really do have control over their own lives and learn from their decisions, whether making the decision to head towards prison, or towards freedom, as Daru “made out the Arab walking slowly on the road to prison” (335). Even though the prisoner had the physical choice to head south to the nomads, he knew in his mind that what he did was wrong and that he deserved the punishment for his crime. Daru is isolated from all but a few outside influences. The only proof he receives to ensure that he is not alone is that of the schoolchildren, coming to school when the weather permits, Balducci bringing the Arab prisoner to him, and the government. When Balducci brings the Arabic prisoner to his home, Daru does not understand why he committed the crime. Even though Daru does not understand his reasons for committing the crime, he still has compassion and shows kindness to the prisoner. While the prisoner is staying with him, Daru forms somewhat of a bond with him, even though being in the schoolhouse alone, with the exception of the schoolchildren, for over a year. Daru is accustomed to spending nights alone and is bothered by the presence of the prisoner, but is also bothered by him “imposing on him a sort of brotherhood” (332). Daru is somewhat afraid of getting attached to the prisoner, and throughout the story, begins to think of him as more than just a guest. Daru feels this way because he remembers what it is like to have a compani...