Sitting the Fence

Daru is a man of mixed heritage that is happiest living away from the conflicting sides that pull at him constantly. One side wants him to be this and the other wants him to be that. After the war, he has chosen to isolate himself so that he can avoid choices that cause him pain. Daru is satisfied with his life until an unexpected guest arrives. Daru refuses to make a choice by doing so he feels that he will not be faced with the consequences that arrive from choice.

Daru has managed to maintain neutrality by keeping himself isolated. Daru makes an effort to move away from people so that he will not be divided about his loyalties. “He had requested a post in the little town at the base of the foothills separating the upper plateaus from the desert” (Camus 117). The place of his birth, knowing that scant peoples live or travel through the area. He has made a few acquaintances with those that work and travel this isolated area; he is respected for being an honest man. The gendarme Balducci arrives one afternoon bringing with him a government prisoner. “The schoolmaster was watching the two men climb towards him” (Camus 113). Daru is disjointed at the sight of the French gendarme leading a

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When Daru final forces himself to go and check he is dismayed to find the Arab still waiting for him.

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I recieved a B- on this so it needs work.

Daru, in his mind has left the Arab’s fate in his own hands by showing him both ways he feels he has discharged any duty he had to the government. After they have eaten Daru prepares a bed for his guest they than pretend to go to sleep. The government that provides Daru with a living wants to punish the Arab, but this interferes with his personal need to remain neutral. Daru resigns himself finally giving into Balducci to avoid anymore conflict. At this point Daru is surprised; he tries to avoid a conflict. Daru leaves and starts on his journey home thinking that he avoided choice, but he turns to go check, “Daru, with heavy heart, makes out the Arab walking slowly on the road to prison” (Camus 121). Daru is pointing out that he is a civilian and until there is a war he wants no part in this affair. Finding him still there, Daru takes the Arab to the crossroads and explains,

’There’s the way to Tinguit. He gives the Arab a chance to escape after the gendarme has left by returning to his room and leaving his guest alone. But Daru never wanted to accept the consequences of that type of action so he avoided having to choose and by treating the Arab prisoner as a guest he made a choice without even realizing. They’ll take you in and shelter you according to their law’ (Camus 119).

Daru rises in the morning and finds his guest.

Approximate Word count = 1123
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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