Hosting can be quite a delightful and memorable experience, however there is a lot of stress and planning that comes along with it. Hosting is a theme that is represented throughout a multitude of pieces of literature. This essay will be comparing a couple of those literary works; Cathedral by Raymond Carver and The Guest by Albert Camus, both of which depict the ups and downs of having guests over, highlighting the differences and similarities of hosting. The role of a host is to welcome and accommodate their guest, even if unwanted, by providing them with a comfortable environment, food and lodging, all the while respecting their boundaries and norms.
In the story Cathedral, the guest who is coming over, Robert, is somewhat unwanted by the
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One night, a prisoner is brought over to Daru’s home and asked to watch over and brought to the prison the next morning. Daru is extremely opposed to the idea of having a criminal in his home overnight, but begrudgingly agrees. He makes tea for the man who brought the Arab and the Arab himself, but notices his hands are tied and suggests that “He might perhaps be untied.” (Camus 4). Once Daru learned that the crime committed by the prisoner was murder, “[he] felt a sudden wrath against the man, against all men with their rotten spite, their tireless hates, their blood lust” (Camus 5). Although Daru was appalled by what this man had done, he still treated him as any good host would. He began by preparing food for this guest even before his own, then “He brought a folding bed from the shed, set it up between the table and the stove, perpendicular to his own bed.” (Camus 8). Daru made sure the Arab would be as comfortable as possible for the night, even though he did not like the idea that a criminal was staying under his roof. This guest is treated as though he were invited over, even though he was not wanted there. Daru is a good host and a good person though, he treats a criminal with respect and provides him with proper