Analysis Of Irony In The Story 'The Guess' By Albert Camus

Irony in “The Guess”
Irony manifests a person’s meaning by using language that implies the opposite. It can also defines an event or state that represents the contrary to what someone expects. In the story the “The Guess” by Albert Camus, many situations and/or arguments cause irony. The first situation happens when Balducci delivers The Arab to Daru; Daru then discusses with Balducci that he doesn’t want to hand him to the guards, even though the Arab deserved to die for his crime. The second situation happens when Daru lying in bed began to think about the Arab’s crime, and how it changed Daru’s life. Having to send the Arab for execution proofs problematic for Daru; it only makes him feel humiliated. In the third situation, irony appears when Daru left the Arab in the top of the hill and showed him two roads, one that will take him to freedom and the other that will take him to his dead. Daru left the Arab alone to make the decision, then he discovered the Arab decides to respond for his crime, and he walks towards the guards. All three situations that represent irony are characterized and summarize in the following paragraphs.
Balducci came from the Ameur to the village with a horse and the

Arab on it. Daru asked “and where are you headed for?” Balducci replied “here my boy” (The Guess 195). That night Balducci brought the Arab (whom killed another man) to Daru and told him that he has to deliver him to police headquarters; for which Daru felt unhappy. Daru doesn’t want to take responsibility for another man’s fate, Balducci argues that there only a dozen guards at the Ameur, and he cannot do the job himself and orders must be respected; even though, Daru expresses that he feels disgusted with the situation, for which Balducci said “I don’t like it either. You don’t get used to putting a rope on a man even after years of it” (The Guess 197).
Daru has a mix of feelings that arise every time he thinks of handing the Arab to the guards.

After war Daru had requested to be transferred to a small town, where the silence of the town echoes in the schoolhouse; and it was hard on him. Now that he has company the same silence still muter the house. He thought about war and how he fought next to other men, whom he got to know and to love. The presence of the Arab imposes on Daru a feeling of brotherhood that he knew very well, and that he didn’t want to share. Men that fought together, or share rooms, or were prisoners or soldiers grow a peculiar alliance. However, Daru tries not to think about it, such feelings aren’t good for him. Daru wishes the Arab runs away because he feels as much of a prisoner as the

Arab.
In a short time, Daru knows that he can’t do what he had been asked. He takes the Arab and walks the plateau. They reached a high level on the plateau from where they can see the east and south. Daru turned to the Arab and gave him a package with food and money. Then Daru points to the east and tells the Arab that’s the road to Tinguit, where he can find the police. Daru then takes the Arab and turns him towards the south where they can see a faint path that will take him to the nomads, the nomads would protect him. Therefore, Daru left the Arab on the hill, and let him chose what road to take. Daru leaves and stars his journey back home, when at a short distance Daru stops to see what direction the Arab takes. For his surprise the Arab decides to go east towards the police. Daru sees the unavoidable of facing the