Humanities Through the Arts (32578)

Prof. Hallinger
Angella Valpolini
ID: 10146952
The Plague (Choice #1)
Even though existentialism appeared in early Buddhist and Christian writings, and on Blaise
Pascals beliefs of life without God as meaningless, and John Lockes concepts of individual
autonomy and self-determination in the 17th Century, existentialism became noticeable because
of the philosophers Sren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche in the 19th Century (The Basics
of Philosophy - Existentialism). In spite of the fact that these philosophers as many others from
that period and later on would not categorize themselves as existentialists, they still represented
the themes of the existentialism from its own point of view. Beyond all the different perceptions
they may have, existentialism was rooted in a philosophical concept of individual existence,
freedom and choice, which sought to define the meaning of mens self and the meaning of life in
general. In light of the events of the World War I, but mainly the ones during the World War II,
existentialism emerged as a philosophical and cultural movement in which writers such as JeanPaul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Simone de Beauvoir, would use the themes proper of the
movement on their plays and pieces of writing. Though these existentialists were often confused
with Nihilism and Absurdism, their works represented existential themes, such as dread,
boredom, alienation, the absurd, freedom, commitment, and nothingness (The Basics of
Philosophy

Existentialism).

As Paris was liberated from the German forces, Albert Camus became not only a figure of the

intellectual post-war France but also a famous international figure of the existentialism. Albert
Camus (19131960), a French-Algerian journalist and novelist, was best known because of the
themes of absurdism and existentialism within his works, which he had developed during World
War II as he participated with the French Resistance (Biografy.com). Camus concept of
existentialism, though he did not consider himself a representative of the existentialist
movement, was based on the lack of emotion and interest in life, the lack of sense and purpose as
individuals, and the lack of the belief in God. Most of all, different from the concept of life as
something meaningless on its whole from the existentialism, Camus believed that men could
give a sense to their lives by actions of goodness and kindness, therefore, he not only could give
sense to his existence and the ones of others, but also find his essence as a human being ('E's Not
Quite Dead Yet: Existentialism and The Plague). Among his famous works, there was: The Myth
of Sisyphus, The Stranger, The Plague, The Fall and the Exile and the Kingdom. Nonetheless, it
would be The Plague with which he would display his concept of existentialism and show the
allegory

of

the

German

occupation

during

the

World

War

II.

The Plague (1947), which is a story of a dehumanizing plague or disease that took place in
the town of Oran, Algeria, presents Camus interest on telling the story of a fight that goes beyond
a disease or against Germans soldiers but goes to the indifference towards the value of life. As
the story begins, the author describes the city as not attractive, boring, and lifeless. In fact, the
author says the truth is that everyone is bored, and devotes himself to cultivating habits. Our
citizens work hard, but solely with the object of getting rich (The Plague, pg. 10), where it is
noticeable that the residents in Oran are driven by their dreary and selfish lives, which are also
filled with habits and commerce to have wealthy. In addition, there is a disdain for their loved
ones, for the existence and life of the residents of the city as well. The residents in Oran give not

much importance to death, in fact, there is not a time for it. As the author depicts, an invalid
feels out of it there. Think what it must be for a dying man, trapped behind hundreds of walls all
sizzling with heat, while the whole population, sitting in cafes or hanging on the telephone, is
discussing shipments, bills of lading, discounts! It will then be obvious what discomfort attends
death, even modern death.. (The Plague, pg. 11). Similarly to how the author depicts the themes
of existentialism in the free, dull, lifeless and indifferent sense on the residents of the city of
Oran, he portrays his philosophy through the different characters that appear throughout the
book.
As the side effects of the plague began to emerge, the sense of freedom, characteristic of the
existentialism, started to disappear. As well as all the benefits of living with selfishness had to
their lives. Camus from this point would display his existentialist philosophy on each one of his
characters. Based upon the capability of men to give sense to his life through actions of kindness
and goodness, the characters of Dr. Bernard Rieux, Raymond Rambert, Joseph Grand, Father
Paneloux, and Jean Tarrou, who tried to fight against the plague, represent this philosophy. First,
there is Dr. Rieux. Even though Rieux did not have an attitude of pity or sympathy for others,
because of his duty as a doctor, he is the first character in the book to recognize the plague and
fight against it without being concerned about the consequences of getting infected and dying.
He, in fact, puts his duty as a doctor to save lives instead of his desires of being with his wife.
Just as the author says that the plague bacillus never dies or disappears for good; that it can lie
dormant for years... and that perhaps the day would come when, for the bane and the
enlightening of men, it would rouse up its rats again and send them forth to die in a happy city,
Rieux fights against the plague, without a certain of whether the plague will end or not.
Meanwhile, Raymond Rambert, a journalist from a Paris newspaper, is one of the characters as

many others who tried to escape. At the beginning, he had a selfish attitude towards the people of
the city, but later he decides to stay and show the interest to find his own happiness by fighting
the plague. At the same time, Joseph Grand, a clerk in the municipal office, contributes as well to
the fight against the disease by joining the sanitary squads. Moreover, beside of Camus
philosophy of men, he shows his doubts as an atheist, presented not only the fight against the
plague but also the fight against doubts and faith in religion on the character of Father Paneloux.
This lack of faith in Camus can be also seen on the attitude, reaction and beliefs of the residents
in Oran as the author says Rieux said that hed already answered: that if he believed in an allpowerful God he would cease curing the sick and leave that to Him. But no one in the world
believed in a God of that sort; no, not even Paneloux, who believed that he believed in such a
God. And this was proved by the fact that no one ever threw himself on Providence
completely.... (The Plague, pg. 116). Overall, among all the characters, Jean Tarrou was the
character who most depicts Camus philosophy. Tarrou is a visitor at Oran who in light of the
uncomfortable experience while seeing his father prosecuting attorney to a criminal, he finds
himself on the responsibility and need of fighting against indifference and human suffering. He
also believes that fighting against the plague is a way to find peace and a decent death, as he
stated in the book, I have realized that we all have plague, and I have lost my peace. And today
I am still trying to find it; still trying to understand all those others and not be the mortal enemy
of anyone. I only know that one must do what one can to cease being plague-stricken, and thats
the only way in which we can hope for some peace or, failing that, a decent death. For this
reason, he joins the sanitary squads and fights against the disease, what makes him represent
Camus beliefs of good actions must replace the conscious and unconscious indifference which
plagues

mankind.

('E's

Not

Quite

Dead

Yet:

Existentialism

and

The

Plague)

The last two chapters of the book presented most of the valuable events and the climax of the
story. Rambert changes his desires of individual happiness to a desire of finding happiness while
helping others. Then, it comes to the doubt on Gods will and Christianity as Ms. Othons child
dies because of the plague. Finally, the plague reaches the highest levels of death without food
supplies as well. However, after Grand contracts the plague and suddenly cured from it, the
deaths of the plague started to fall. As the plague comes to its end, the city of Oran begins to
stabilize itself. Nonetheless, though some residents feel the joy of being reunited with their loved
ones, some feel lost and accustomed to the isolation. In addition, the relativity of life and death is
shown. As Tarrou and Rieuxs wife die, Rieux finds himself stuck without being able to express
his love to the people he cares. Beyond the joy of the end of the plague, the sorrowful feeling of
the unpredictable fate of death and the incapability of expressing love to the people they may
have taken for granted, the residents of Oran noticed that the plague has changed them. The
plague change who they were and it gave a different meaning to their lives. Most of all, Camus
shows that in light of unfortunate events and with the presence of pestilences, men can show his
goodness and kindness that lies within their essence; therefore, there are more things to admire
in

men

than

to

despise.(The

Plague,

pg.278)

Overall, though Albert Camus did not consider himself as an existentialist, he managed to
create not only a novel with existentialist themes but also with his own philosophy. The Plague,
which beyond being considered as an allegory of the World War II, shows the seek of finding the
meaning of life in the face of death. Albert Camus uses his philosophy of existentialism as a key
to reflect about indifference and to show that the plagues not only live within the wars but also
within ourselves. The fight against the plague within ourselves and the fight of plague in general,
in Camus beliefs, is what helps men rise and show the goodness and kindness that lies within

their essence. Therefore, men can find the meaning of his existence after they understand, work
and show their true essence.
Work Cited
Existentialism. The Basics of Philosophy. Luke Mastin, 2008. Web. 30 April
2016.
Biography.com Editors. Albert Camus Biography. The Biography.com. A&E
Television Networks, NA. Website. 30 April 2016.
Cline, Austin. Biographical History of Existentialism: Albert Camus Biography
aboutreligion.com. About.com, 01 January 2016. Web. 30 April 2016.
Existentialism allaboutphilosophy. AllAboutPhilosophy.org, 2002 - 2016. Web.
30 April 2016.
Howara, Adam.'E's Not Quite Dead Yet: Existentialism and The Plague.
byzantinecommunications.com. N/A. Web. 30 April 2016.
Camus, Albert, and Stuart Gilbert. The Plague: Albert Camus. New York:
Random House, Inc., 1948. Print.