L'hote

I thought it was particularly interesting how Daru seems to insist that the Arab is presented with a hospitable environment, while Balducci seems much less forthcoming: "Il resservit du thé à Balducci, hésita, puis servit à nouveau L'Arabe..." (87). As the story continues and Dura is left alone with the Arab, the sentence structure becomes more complex, and I thought that this could represent the growing complexity of the guest/host relationship. Throughout the story, Daru is accommodating, asking if "Tu as faim?" (91), and tells the Arab "N'aie pas peur. C'est moi. Il faut manger" (95-96). His role as the doting host continues to the end, as he offers a man he is told is a criminal the choice of freedom or imprisonment; does the fact that this offer eventually ends poorly for Daru signify that there is a danger in being the "perfect" host?