Existentialism Simone De Beauvoir Terminology

¶ … Characters in Camus' "The Guest" Using Simone De Beauvoir's Terminology and Ideas

Daru

Daru is the main character of The Guest. At the beginning of the narrative, Daru is seen watching carefully the arrival of two guests. He lives alone in the schoolhouse and this cold winter afternoon as the pupils remain home due to the blizzard. He spends time feeding the chicken, finding coal and going to the shed other than these, he spends much time in solitude. Daru comes from this place that is portrayed as cruel, but he would rather be here than anywhere else. Daru is visited by his old acquaintance Balducci and with Balduci is an Arab with his hands tied. He host them and an exchange of words ensue which reveals Daru's personality.

Simone de Beauvoir's ambiguity plays out in this character and to be specific esthetic Attitude, a positive aspect of Ambiguity. It prescribes that people are interdependent, the world one engages in is a human world where everything as a human aspect. Therefore, the world is a talking world which brings forth solicitation and appeals. This gives life a human perspective emphasizing that people are able to give freedom a solid content. Man is charged with the responsibility of disclosing the world with the aim of more disclosure to set people free who are of utmost value to the world. This idea lays emphasis on the fact that all people are free and that no one wills themselves free. Daru seemed to grasp this concept and it was deeply rooted in him.

Daru declines to accept Balduci's orders of taking the prisoner to Tinguit. He defies the authorities and decides to treat the prisoner with dignity and respect. He appears to reject the dictums of the colonial authority and allows the prisoner to choose his own fate. The author portrays Daru as one who considers free choices of what makes a person. According to de Beauvoir, people stand to gain liberty from emancipation, to be freed subjected to their own destiny and more important to make authentic decisions in all aspects of life. From the beginning of the story when he saw the prisoner tied with ropes walking along side Balduci, Daru had been observing this picture, the in humane aspect of the picture. The narrative reads that despite the fact that he had known the gendarme for some time, as he made gestures of greetings on his way in, Daru did not respond. He was deeply engaged looking at the Arab tied at the end of the rope. Even when they reached an earshot and Balducci shouted in pride how short the trip took, Daru's attention was still on the Arab tied at the end of the rope. He must have suffered along the way with such a speed, most likely what Daru thought. He describes the Arabs attire in relation to the weather conditions, for him (Daru) he had to get a sweater this cold afternoon, but this poor fellow wore sandals with his feet covered in oatmeal socks and a narrow cheche on his head. Indeed, the Arab had no choice; he was forced to comply with the prevailing conditions. According to Simone de Beauvoir, free choice can give meaning to one's life in a meaningless world. Freedom and Liberation also an aspect of Ambiguity are important to existentialism. He further explains that to have freedom is a positive move that motivates people to pass to existence.