Sitting the Fence

A detailed Summary of 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

Daru rises in the morning and finds his guest. He awakens his guest to give him another chance of escape and to avoid his own act of having to choose. Daru takes the Arab outside hoping he might leave. . Daru's curiosity gets the best of him and he checks on the Arab. Finding him still there, Daru takes the Arab to the crossroads and explains,

I recieved a B- on this so it needs work. This is Albert Camus The guest

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. He also feels that he has avoided conflict with his Arab heritage by letting the wanted man make his own choice. 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 sadden when he sees the choice the Arab made. He seemed to want the man to choose life over certain death, but he could have helped him make that choice by telling him to leave. 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. Upon his arrival home Daru is confronted, "You handed over our brother. You will pay for this" (Camus 121). His heritage/people has decided.

Daru tried to be loyal to both sides by refusing to make a difficult choice. By trying to avoid conflict, consequences and decisions he placed himself in the position of letting someone else deciding his fate. Daru efforts illustrate that choice cannot be avoide

Some common words found in the essay are:
Daru Balducci, Finding Daru, Fence Daru, camus 117, 117 daru, camus 117 daru, 119 daru, Albert Camus, camus 115 daru, daru takes arab, camus 119 daru, 115 daru, takes arab, chance escape, arab prisoner, camus 115, daru makes, daru takes,

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

Category: English