Daru is, I don't want to say my favorite character, but the more likable one. From the beginning of the story it seemed as though he was only interested in the simple life. He lived in a semi-secluded life, just himself and the students he taught. It seems as though he is searching for a less complicated life away from all the problems that he didn't believe had to do with him; where he only needs to worry about himself and not others, since he mostly felt like an exile. When Balducci came along with the prisoner, the Arab, to me it seemed as though he could tell his simple life would be complicated and nuisanced with a so called calling to follow orders. When Balducci, arrived and allowed the Arab to settle in, Daru didn’t share the same hate. Instead, he saw the Arab, not as a tool to obtain information to be simply discarded and left to fend for himself once he no longer became necessary. Daru saw him as an actual human being, one that lives, breathes and feels. In the one night that he was in Daru's care he treated him as an actual guest, feeding him, giving him a bed and allowing him to be free, to move around the house and basically do as he pleased.
However, as much as Daru felt to treat the Arab objectively, outside of any obligation from having to side with some ideal and instantly judging him, he thought of him as the nuisance in his life, just because of what he has been ordered to do. He constantly thought, wished and practically gave a chance for the Arab to escape. It was clear from when Balducci gave him the order to take him to headquarter, Daru didn’t want to. Then again when he just let the Arab go, when they were not even close enough, to give assurance that he would go, to the headquarters. He put a lot of faith that the Arab would do the right thing for himself.
Daru was a man of respect, faith and simple man. He didn’t really care for much that didn’t benefit him or cause much trouble in his life. He just wanted to be isolated, away from all the problems. Yet no matter where he could go, trouble always found him and that he would pay for always being involved in something he didn’t believe.
Hey Julio,
ReplyDeleteI agreee that Daru was an interesting character. I liked your point about him only wanting a simple life and being troubled my Balducci and the Arab. Do you think that Daru felt torn by the idea of having to deliver the Arab to his fate or do you feel it was more about the inconvenience of the situation to Daru's life? Camus always talks about living in isoltion and you really picked up on Daru wanting the same thing! It is a great point and I had not looked at the story that way. Thanks for the perspective! Alex