"The Guest"- Questions 1-4

1.       Why do you think the story set in a remote location?  What does the setting tell the reader about the main character?

The story was setting in Algeria where the author was born a disrupted life before and during the Algerian War. I believed that the story was based in the author’s life in reference to his location and the permanent positive and negative emotions during war. During arduous circumstances, emotions are easily viewed among human beings who share common life conditions and support one another. Daru lived in a deserted rocky plateau in the mountains of Algeria where the climate could be extremely sunny or dry, and windy, snowy, or cold during some nights or mornings. There was not any fertile land or people around high and low slopes following by a desolated expanse. Like the setting, Daru was isolated from the cities and businesses. He was susceptible, fair, and, aware of the misery and tragedy of the citizens. However, he was controlled by the French government and did not have a choice. In the same way, the climate was sometimes “unfair” because it was caused by the unstable atmosphere’s conditions and human actions.

2.   Why does Daru give the Arab the opportunity to escape?  Why doesn’t he escape? Why does he take the road to the Arab lands at the end of the story?

During that time French and Arabs were subordinated by the government’s laws and duties during the war, so the French gendarme and the rest of citizens did not have choice of freedom. Taking responsibility of other life did not belong to anyone and it was unethical. Therefore, Daru gave the opportunity to the Arab. He did not escape because he felt secure and trustworthy about Daru who fed and cared him until the end. It was well humanly treated. Daru was always honest with him, and so the Arab. As a result, the Arab accepted his fate and made his own choice.

3.     In what ways is the Arab treated as a guest by Daru?  In what ways is Daru a guest in Algeria?

The Arab was depending of Daru who treated him in a good manner, made him dinner, and gave him a place to sleep. Because the Arab did not have any possessions, Daru provided him with enough food and money for the journey.  

Daru was born in Algeria from French parents. He was depending of the French’s government, who conquered Algeria, supplied and managed all the resources which Daru made use for poor people. During the story, Daru was an accurate host, but not France. A precise host will not request something in exchange.

4.    Albert Camus once wrote, “No great work has ever been based on hatred or contempt.  On the contrary, there is not a single true work of art that has not in the end added to the inner freedom of each person who has known and loved it.” Evaluate “The Guest” in light of this statement by Camus.

Although “The Guest” mentions about violence, misery, and death, it keeps and defines well what is moral, love, and justice. A great story always keeps balance between evil and good over the life of the characters. The reader will be able to recognize clearly what differences are among human actions for a particular setting and character. After Daru asked himself so many times, if the Arab could do something against him, he decided to let him choose about his individual freedom. The Arab learned to be loved and treated with respect by Daru, thus the future prisoner did the same as he did. If we receive love by someone or through an experience, we will able to give it back even if we find ourselves with limited choices.

"We only know of one duty, and that is to love"

 

Albert Camus
French existentialist author & philosopher (1913 - 1960)

The Widow of Ephesus- Homework/ Questions 3-4

3. The widow’s main virtue was being faithful to her husband within after his death. She was so loyal that she almost spent more than five days in starvation until death. While she cried in the tomb, a handsome soldier came to her and convinced her to eat again. She was so weak and starved after those days that she gave up her duty. She could not oppose against her human needs and woman emotions.

4. This story is a satire, but not a joke. It tries to ridicule the attitudes of women who were not as virtuous as the narrator said. The story seems a joke because the widow loved her husband so much that she let her husband’s body stayed onto the cross. Therefore, people asked how a dead man could climb there. It had an unexpected end for, such as “virtuous” widow. On the other hand, the story was serious because the widow arranged his funeral and burial by herself and neither her relatives nor authorities could change her choice. Although the story mistreated women in some way, I cannot deny that the story is fruitful because it involves many themes, such as loyalty, sacrifice, love, moral, desires or needs of human beings. Unfortunately, some women look like the widow because they could be interested in money or other affairs. However, there are truly faithful women who could respect their marriage during some time, and then get married again by love.

 

1st comment - Appointment in Samarra

As was told in the story, the servant let his emotions, such as fear and anxiety took him control. He did not have time to think or make a righteous choice, so he escaped from his fate. I think that our emotions sometimes make us choose in a wrong way because we could not tackle our problems. Not always an accurate choice has the easiest approach. However, if we choose the difficult way, it will demand the best of an individual.

1st Note - Appointment in Samarra

William Somerset Maugham was an English-French novelist who had a traumatized childhood. His mother died six day after his sixth son was born who died the next day. His mother died of TB and his father died of cancer when Maugham was eight years old. Then, he lived with his uncle in England whose family had any children. It seems that his lamentable childhood always influenced his short stories. According to Maugham said, “Life is not long enough for love and art.” -The Moon and Sixpence

Before reading “Appointment in Samara” I would like to express what I are trying to achieve “We must live the day in righteousness as if it was the last one because when cannot know how, when or where will occur, but who had faith will know what will be next”

Correction - 1st Blog Assignment

I remember sitting around with my classmates in high school, paying attention to the weekly story or synopsis of some of the bestsellers by my literature teacher. If the time is appropriate, perhaps the professor might tell some stories or reproduce some films about them. The class will be able to analyze, share, and criticize stories in groups. Additionally, we may understand the evolution of the literature if we make a timeline or learn more about the experiences or influences in life of famous writers. We may answer some analytical questions of classical and historical readings which depict us the development of human dreams and emotions from ancient time to the present. At the end of the semester, I would like to know more types of poetry and prose according to their origin and subject. Also, I would like to be able to analyze some of the outstanding readings and finally improve my writing through essays.

1st Blog Assignment- Discuss expectations from the course...

I remember myself sitting around my classmates in highschool paying attention the weekly story or synopsis of a betseller by my literature teacher. If the time is appropiate, perhaps the professor could tell some stories or reproduce some films about it. The class could analyse the story in groups and share or criticize this. Additionally, if we need to understand more the evolution of the literature, we might make a timeline or learn about the experiences or influences of famous writers. So many classical and historical readings accomplished human dreams through time. At the end of semester, I would like to know more types of poetry and prose according to their origin and subject. Also, I would like to be able to analyse some of the outstanding readings and finally improve my writing through essays.

Starting blogging.....