Daru- He watches Balducci and the Arab approach the schoolhouse at the start of the narrative. The schoolhouse is his home, although with the sudden snow none of his pupils attend anymore.
Daru argues against delivering the Arab to Tinguit, and is plunged into a state of moral despair at the end of the narrative when he realizes that the Arab has chosen certain imprisonment.
Balducci- Balducci is the man on the horse who leads the Arab up the hill to Daru. He holds the horse back so not to hurt the Arab. Once within earshot he shouts a greeting to Daru. He is an old gendarme and has known Daru for a long time. He looks upon Daru as a son, but is insulted by Daru's refusal to turn in the Arab. It is Balducci who first speaks of a revolt, and speaks about the obligations that men face during war. He clearly longs for a peaceful retirement, but is resigned to his duties.
The Arab- He is very timid and fearful throughout the narrative, and even does not try to escape despite many opportunities. At the end, he decides to walk towards imprisonment, and in this way symbolizes the absurdity and despair of the human condition.
- The Guest takes place in Algeria in mid-October on the eve of the Algerian war.
- The story was published in 1957, in the midst of the war (about 3years in to the war).
- Depicts Daru's struggle with what is morally right.
- Daru treats the Arab prisoner as a guest, but must ultimately choose whether to send him to prison or set him free.
- In the end, the Arab chooses the path towards imprisonment.
- the title "the Guest": i think that Daru is the actual guest who is a french living in Algerian land. The Arab might have been mistaken by Daru's politeness of his guest that the prison might be better off (they would treat The Arab good even if he is a prisoner).
- What do you take from the message written on the blackboard?- "you handed over our brother, you will pay for this." it might be the Arab's family who wrote it. Algerians were watching Daru and hiding from Daru but Daru never knew about them. Algerian knew the land better than Daru. After Daru read the message, i think he was looking out the window thinking how he could explain this when they come for him. Now, he is on his own no allies, in a bad spot.
I actually really liked this story. I found it interesting and I completely agree with you when you say that Daru was a guest in his own country. Even though he lives there and it's his home, he really doesn't belong. This is reinforced like you said when he comes back from leaving the Arab and finds the message written on his wall. I don't think that if they came for him there would be any chance to explain. The Algerians feel that Daru basically took the life of one of their own so they will do the same to him. They are able to do this to because that is their land. They know it like the back of their hands. When Daru is looking out the window he could be being watched at that moment for all he knows.
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