Misrepresentation of Algerians: Contrapuntal Reading of Albert Camus “The Guest”

Abstract

This study analyzes Albert Camus's short story The Guest using both postcolonial theory and contrapuntal reading to reveal its colonial dimensions. Postcolonial theory analyzes texts written during colonial periods, especially from the 18th and 19th centuries, to expose concealed narratives of imperialism. This study examines how the depiction of the Arab prisoner in The Guest transforms the colonized image and assesses whether the story supports the French civilizing mission in Algeria. The research shows that the narrative presents Arabs as passive subjects who lack control over their destiny. It romanticizes French colonial endeavors through Daru's character, who expresses sympathy towards the Algerians but remains integrated within colonial frameworks. The analysis demonstrates that, through the humanization of the colonizer, the text maintains a Eurocentric viewpoint, which strengthens colonial power structures instead of questioning them.