“The Guest” by Albert Camus has elements of the different units we have had during class. The story brings together an example of personal caves, objectivity, and truths that each person is involved in and how they all are connected.
Balducci treats the prisoner as a lesser being because he is a prisoner and he does not give himself the chance to learn more about the prisoner. The prisoner committed a crime, so he does not deserve to be treated with respect, in Balducci’s opinion, even though he does not know the whole story. The prisoner is stuck in a cave of committing his crime and being punished for it. He acts cautiously around Daru because he does not know what Daru is thinking, but he does not have hatred for him just because Daru is required to turn him in.
Daru has the tough decision of whether or not to turn in the prisoner. He is stuck in a cave where he wants nothing to do with the prisoner, but at the same time, is in charge of turning him in. When Daru first meets the prisoner, he does not have any judgments of him. He treats the prisoner, as Fromm says we should treat everyone, objectively. Through the objectivity, he treats the prisoner with respect and in return, the prisoner respects him and does not try to kill him. Daru has to face the truth that whether he turns in the prisoner or not, he will be punished, so he gives the prisoner the choice instead.
The prisoner ends up turning himself in because he did not want to run. The prisoner faces his truth that he murdered his cousin and he is willing to take his punishment. Daru on the other hand, knows the truth, but chooses to stay at his school, which is away from other people, so he can avoid the truth as long as possible.
“The Guest” gives us examples of how different people act around one situation. It has examples of how we should act, according to the units we have talked about in class, and how we shouldn’t act. This story lets the reader see the different perspectives and attitudes revolving around one situation and how different they can all be.
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