L'Hôte

In L'Hôte, it's interesting to note how much Camus emphasises that both Daru and the Arab prisoner are outsiders. When we meet Daru, he is alone on the plateau and we are told that "il se sentait exilé", while Balducci tells him "Tu as toujours été un peu fêlé". Meanwhile, the prisoner is dressed in traditional Arabic/North African dress and his appearance (particularly his "énorme lèvres") strikes Daru as unusual. In the first few pages of the story, Camus takes time to emphasise just how isolated Daru and the people who live near him are, relying on supplies coming from the nearby town to survive (interestingly, Daru is the one given the power to distribute these supplies.) What he has to offer when being the host is scarce and he relies heavily on others to receive it. As the narrator then says, "Dans ce désert, personne, ni lui ni son hôte n'étaient rien". Camus has chosen two isolated figures to explore hospitality, an idea that includes welcoming people whether or not you know them.