Analysis of the Guest by Albert Camus - Book Report/Review Example

Task: The Guest by Albert Camus The narrative is set in a school compound where two people are moving towards the school. Itappears that they are coming from a distant place because the horse is exhausted. The two people are the expected guests. This happens in mid October following a period of drought witnessed in the region. Daru stays in a classroom that is cold as he waits for the guest. According to Camus (2), fair weather is expected to return to the place after the long spell of drought. Consequently, he handed a prisoner who needs to be moved to Tinguit. Balducci, who brings the prisoners, claims that the accused had killed his cousin because of a family squabble over grain. However, it is surprising that there are high rates of insecurity in the region because Balducci has to return to El Ameur to watch over the territory. In as much as several concepts and themes are evident in the narration, the author highlights the theme of injustice, loneliness, and deficiency; consequently, it is necessary to analyze the story based on literary concepts. Analysis of the Guest by Albert Camus The title “guest” is suitable for the story based on varied reasons. Initially, several things that are happening in the story are alien to the inhabitants of the region. The meetings between people who are unknown to each other signify the need for tolerance. The Arab and Balducci are the guests in the story. According to Camus (2), the story and the characters become anxious because a guest is expected. Indeed, the guest is a character in the story that the author does not disclose directly to the audience. Omnipresent narration is used figuratively to describe the characters in the tale. The narration works well because the reader can understand the events that followed the period after the drought. According to Camus (7), people are dealing with different forms of insecurities. Consequently, the prisoner in the story should receive punishment for his wrongdoings. The Guest depicts a time when people were encountering several forms of challenges in their societies. This is clear because the region where the story is set experiences instability. The author states that the place had experienced war and its negative effects for a while. The characters in the story are instrumental in painting a picture of the real condition that the author describes (Camus 4). For example, Daru is indecisive because he questions the events surrounding his life as apparent in numerous instances. He is supposed to deliver the Arab to the authorities in Tinguit; however, he is unwilling to do so. Daru talks about the bags of wheat that would be used by the families facing hunger (Camus 1). From the analysis of the story, farming plays a decisive role to livelihood of the characters in the plays. The author further states that learning is no longer taking place at the school compound. As witnessed in the story, the schoolmaster arrives at a deserted. He is annoyed with the prevailing conditions in his country as apparent in the conversation. The guest revolves around the theme of justice. There is a lot of anxiety among the characters in the scene (Camus 6). None of them is certain about his future following the drought and wars. The divergent themes in “the guest” are instrumental because they highlight the uncertainties in the contemporary European community. It is surprising to state that the Arab is also a guest yet he had committed a crime initially. Indeed, referring to a wrongdoer as a guest represents sarcasm in the story. The theme of morality is also present in the play using different scene. For example, it is questionable when Daru chooses to sleep naked yet he is a grown up person (Camus 6). The behavior is expected only among children in the society. Symbolism is equally evident in most part of the story. It is evident that people were suffering because of their own mistakes after carefully looking at various instances of imagery (Camus 3). For example, the prisoner will suffer for having committed murder. The author portrays most of the characters as being insensitive to issues that affect their livelihood. A case highlighting a character taken to prison while tied on a rope is inhuman. It is fundamental to emphasize the dignity of life instead of mistreating people regardless of their mistakes. Subsequently, it is stated that the schoolmaster was “listening to the silence”. This figurative language describes the situation that the schoolmaster was facing because it was empty and fearful. Additionally, Daru will be blamed for handing over a brother to the judges in Tanguit. The main characters in the play find it difficult to address the challenges facing them. Consequently, they resort to crude means of solving problems such as imprisoning offenders selectively. For example, Baducci arms himself with weapons. This is an indication that he is ready to defend himself regardless of the cost (Camus 4). It is common for prisoners to be mistreated but it is unfair to tie a prisoner on a moving horse. Interestingly, the author affirms that meals play a very important role in enhancing friendship. Irony is clear in the story because the prisoner is treated with respect. The guard offers the prisoners food before serving himself. However, this might be used as an indication of generosity that Daru displayed to the Arab. Consequently, Daru seems to be fair when dealing with the prisoner (Camus 5). Moreover, he has developed a good relationship with the prisoner/Arab. The story ends with the theme of loneliness that highlights the author’s sentiments. The main character Daru cannot understand the cause of his problems. His glimpse of the plateaus is an indication that he is filled with nostalgia from the events that took place while he was within the school compound. From the story, a person learns that crime is retrogressive. Additionally, Daru is dissatisfied because he has to move the prisoner from one point to the next yet he did not act commit any transgression. Work Cited Camus, Albert. The Guest Translated by Justin O'Brien. Web. 24th September 2012 http://www.braungardt.com/Literature/Camus/Guest.htm. Read More