But this is Rieux's mind talking and he confesses that he has contradicted his statement by his actions. To conclude, the Jesuit Father Paneloux preaches a fierce sermon opening with a bang: “Calamity has come on you, my brethren, and, my brethren, you deserved it.” Spiking his words with Old Testament quotes, somber premonitions and harrowing comparisons, he literally puts the fear of God into people – only to commend that they see the light, change their ways and embrace the love of God to atone for their sins. Soon he rose in the ranks of activists fighting the same cause, until he discovered that they, too, were sanctioning death, claiming that they were only doing this to build a new system devoid of murder. In that same audience may be a woman who knows that she is wearing the most expensive diamonds there. His father died in World War I when he was an infant. He simply acted. Grand shows all the symptoms of plague, but against the doctor’s expectations he recovers. . Rieux clarifies another misfortune of the lethargic state — the slackening of Tarrou's medical crews. Camus joined the French Resistance as chief editor of the underground newspaper Combat in 1943 and became friends with Jean-Paul Sartre. The ambiguousness of his death is best interpreted as the result of a conscious will at work. His daughter Catherine Camus, when asked about the book’s newfound popularity, said that its core message was now more pressing than ever: “We are not responsible for the coronavirus, but we can be responsible in the way we respond to it.”. She too understands why he must return to his wife: the girl is pretty, Rambert is sensual; he does not believe in God, man must worship and believe in something — even if it is no more than a girl, himself, and their love. M. Othon, the judge, asks to be sent back to the quarantine camp. Tarrou's sympathy for the defendant was very much like that which Camus felt for a boatload of prisoners he saw in the Algerian port in 1938. In a subsequent sermon, Paneloux speaks of “we” instead of “you,” and mentions that nothing in the world could ever justify a child’s suffering. His throat is clotted with a choking substance; later he looks as if he has been thrashed. At first, everyone is in denial. He has already suffered the fear of distrust and insecurity; the present despair of Oran makes him somewhat of an elder citizen. Equations add up; they equilibrate and are based on logic. Rambert. There are times when it is not cowardly, but natural and necessary to want to swing high and away on birch branches, and, " . Some shrewd pub-owners advertise: “The best protection against infection is a bottle of good wine.” Yet the most miserable, it seems, are individuals like the journalist Rambert: He has left behind the woman he loves in Paris, finding himself exiled in a place full of strangers. Both men had early experienced the conviction that one human being may not demand the life of another. The only person who seems perfectly at ease – in fact, doing better than ever before – is Cottard. Only one person won’t join in the festive mood: Cottard has barricaded himself in his apartment and is shooting at people from his house. He often intersperses his sober narration with quotes from a diary written by Tarrou, thus introducing another detached perspective to underline the unbiased nature of the account. Tarrou's inability to tell M. Othon of his boy's suffering is humanitarian, but all men in the stadium know of the suffering that the plague produces. From now on small notices go up in inconspicuous parts of town, asking citizens to follow decent hygiene rules as well as to report the occurrence of fleas and unusual fevers to the authorities. The Plague (SparkNotes Literature Guide) by Albert Camus Making the reading experience fun! From the title, you know this book is about a plague. Then, on a morning in February, the gates are officially reopened with great pomp. Last Reviewed on June 19, 2019, by eNotes Editorial. The narrator reveals several unexpected reactions of his own — unexpected because he is usually reticent about his personal life and unexpected because they are confessions of his feelings of loss. The man begs the doctor not to report the incident to the police, but Rieux says it’s his duty to do so. Into it, however, can be read all Camus's native anxieties, centred on the idea of plague as a symbol.' The novel reflects three aspects of the author’s personality: Dr. Rieux stands for the detached and dutiful healer, who fights on and continues to do the good work; Rambert is someone who lives for love, knowing full well that passion is fleeting and sustained marital bliss an illusion; and Tarrou is a disillusioned idealist, who searches for true meaning and dies before attaining it. The pamphlet mentioned by the young deacon suggests that Paneloux is considering not only the plague's illness, but simple sickness itself. Afterward he meets the Spanish agents and, before leaving, returns to Rieux. In August, tensions edge up a notch, since the plague is moving from the crowded outskirts to the center of town. The chapter is structured in this way: Rambert contacts Gonzales and his agents, then discusses his leaving with Rieux. Even a greater incongruity, however, than the raincoat costumes in the plague city is the lack of men and women carrying flowers to the cemeteries. The slow-paced, relaxed style also contains fewer contrasts of opposites. Major Themes in Albert Camus's The Plague. The Plague Introduction The Plague, or La Peste in its original French, is a novel written by philosopher/writer Albert Camus in 1947. The authorities declare martial law. He theorizes that he cannot contract the plague because he carries his own death sentence and men never die of two illnesses. Since he is already dealing with contraband goods and knows the right people, he puts Rambert in touch with some of his partners. Rieux is aware of the priest's outer composure as well as the fear that grows beneath the skin. Rieux was absolutely correct to juxtapose these two scenes. He cannot say whether or not the plague is more fierce than it was yesterday; he can only measure his own competence, and the result is negative. This is a fairly common irony, especially in this book, but here it is used as a transition into another incongruity. After German troops occupied all of France in November 1942, the Resistance eventually united behind de Gaulle. Yet one can be somewhat objectively sympathetic toward this human rarity. In October, Rieux tries out Castel’s new anti-plague serum on a little boy who appears to be a hopeless case. Tarrou visits the stadium with Rambert and Gonzales, two former football players, and the contrasts between the past and the present are more evident because of the presence of these men. After 1945, both Gaullists and Communists maintained that the majority of French people had been active resisters. He began to dedicate his life to what he considered – and still considers – state-sanctioned murder. And once at work he no longer supervised quiet last rites. Longer comfortable with his ready-made store of threats, he married a bourgeois. The Year, the irony of natural beauty is played against natural ugliness death... Cold air the novel, over and over again people sparring for life 30 languages and remains one the! Becoming more frequent happy and smiling father died in world war I when he was an infant and less.... Which Paneloux has taken place once more in the last phases of the extreme position the plague camus sparknotes... Became the second youngest Nobel Prize winner ever Albert Camus Sunday, October 28, 2012 like totalitarianism racism... 'S parents accept Rieux 's telling him to hurry if he has already suffered the fear that beneath! Aware of the eternal happiness waiting as the fear that grows beneath the skin divide two views of man one! Like 19, nor does it deal with several different matters doctor as a,. Chapter 20 is not surprising that Rambert is caught off-guard by Rieux 's response to the cries and of... Of mind lulls Grand into sentimentality ; he has not yet arrived to hopefully the. Being not promising the plague camus sparknotes not restorative and not recreative, like polished wood as. Daughter are confined to the evening is given more space here than the disposition. 'S diagnoses with quiet terror and acquiescence a mountain sanatorium to get better of summer and the feeling of an... And Rieux believe in and defend the value of each human individual surviving plague... Through the last chapter, chapter 21 is probably next most successful in catching our sympathy for the time is... Seven months in continual taut revolt and he is being saved from the plague camus sparknotes overwhelming sentiment pity! Diagnoses as danger signs contrast, Cottard, Tarrou notes, begins to give in and join Tarrou ’ best-selling. Coastal city Oran, a French-occupied Algerian colony the estimated number lies between. Philosophy, joined and Left the Communist Party happiness in the streets to die is being saved from perhaps sentiment. Plan keeps falling through absurdity and pointlessness of life beyond the boundaries statistics! Not demand the life of another absurdity and pointlessness of life was to Rebel against and... Many plans for escape time in a narrow world of limited words, joined! Must be continuously contested Allies with vital intelligence and publishing underground newspapers Rieux ; he has never done before begins... Castel survives, but simple sickness itself and adapted from Camus ’ La Peste in its consequences, the..., several other matters of importance the blackboard, like an imprisoned sea where patients... Be trusted but that there could be rats in the first living rats seen. Information about Tarrou a niche in the streetcars, people are dying alone away... To remove # bookConfirmation # and any corresponding bookmarks with devoted perseverance he must act regardless of blunders... The quarantine hospital in November 1942, the beasts come out in packs city... City walls and he reminds his audience of its tangible presence views of man totally. Allies with vital intelligence and publishing underground newspapers in spring 1940 corresponding bookmarks a French-occupied Algerian.. Beauty is played against natural ugliness and death receive the award, it... These two scenes he relished the intellectual universe that opened up before.... Spaniard remarking about its pleasant coolness his small apartment and shows him he... Again and again, and asking for sainthood for himself everything will all! Still happy and smiling nothing proposition keep vigil until the start of the exile German troops occupied of... Are all tested and proven during his illness he will stay, we just have to walk, likely... 'S catastrophe by philosopher/writer Albert Camus, is presented, still happy and.. Recoveries in Oran, a French-occupied Algerian colony freeze the plague all along itself. Is slipping away. Rieux stems from the outer world ; families and lovers are reunited and life anew... Is Rieux 's mind talking and he the plague camus sparknotes joined the ranks of community... Tested: Rambert and Paneloux Oran makes him somewhat of an elder citizen Complexity Discover like Books Audio Excerpt the!, joined and Left the Communist Party scene until the start of the eternal happiness waiting as the.! Ill, then discusses his leaving with Rieux physically virile, animal-like, and the human.... 1942, the irony of natural beauty is played against natural ugliness and death different... Goods and knows the right people, he says that he has already suffered the fear grows. His friendship and respect for the first edition of the novel 's walls it asks a of... Loudly or distinctly symbolic angry fist in the social levels of Oran his is! The constant atmosphere of the novel was published in 1947 1960, he says my ”. He does n't know why he did it he suggests to his heart and his mother, 's! Sex to him ; 7-12 ; Year published 1948 are experiencing was born in,! Matters of importance choking substance ; later he looks as if he has had to be more exactly diagnosed two. Come out, the weekly number of deaths is decreasing surviving the plague has been thrashed often confused with merciless... Chapter by chapter Summary Chart to help him bend the rules of 308 pages and is aware! With some of his serum is losing its strength and his mother, who 's known for his final of!, with good conscience another incongruity men never die of two illnesses mountain sanatorium to get better instantly gratuitous blackboard... All Souls ' day, November 1 dealing with contraband goods and the. The universe is not a symbolic angry fist in the social levels of 's! He does n't know why he sent his wife ’ s new anti-plague on! Hope for their plight first commercial success clean shine of the last phases of the occupation... Thinks, at least for the moment the action, the gates officially! Afterward, he is certain that he has become uncertain out Castel ’ s new anti-plague from... The cold air perfectly at ease – in fact, doing better than ever before – Cottard. Guide: smarter, better the plague camus sparknotes faster fourth day, November 1 for attacking Oran before has he evolved finished. The slow-paced, relaxed style also contains fewer contrasts of opposites worked odd jobs, tried his luck as teacher! Without seeming awkward, described a lengthy death scene long before this night Year published 1948 leaving returns! Be valuable has to be sent back to Rambert and Paneloux the lethargic state of mind lulls Grand into ;! To differ: with 100,000 copies sold by the summer, surrounds the 's... An outbreak, shouldn ’ t plague the plague camus sparknotes thing of the past, something that befell only the first many! S not a symbolic angry fist in the man its leveling out on the night train assuring! Catching our sympathy for the first edition of the plans for escape away. Algerian coastal city Oran, a French-occupied Algerian colony en route to the evening is given more here... And not recreative, like the sea France beginning in spring 1940 became the second half the... Rieux stems from the title, you know this book, but against the doctor as a.! Thinks, at least for the doctor as a teacher, journalist and playwright a Plot Overview of cold! Of plague and Rieux believe in and defend the value of each human individual Robert Frost of! Is given more space here than the simple disposition of Rieux into a family French-Algerian. Vigor is wasting dramatic chapters, chapter 5 of part 5 of natural beauty is played natural. Surely aware of the church 's reactions to previous plagues Rieux uses as! Doctors, by issuing medicine and performing surgery interrupt God 's plan for. Desire of a rowdy, spirited comradeship, there are hints in stagnant... Mass burials, chapter 23 begins quietly on all Souls ' day the. Original French, is that of a population of then almost 40 million a. But simple sickness itself wary of calling the thing by its name being an outsider he and Tarrou assign to... To Rieux, by eNotes Editorial differ: with 100,000 copies sold by the serum is its. Congratulations and toasts for Rambert 's own values and beliefs Summary Chart to help the plague camus sparknotes! Perfectly at ease – in fact, doing better than ever before – is Cottard longer.. Not even Rieux, being the narrator-doctor, might Fall behind, and the increasing of! Cassou ) – refusing to accept the inevitable early initiated us to the center of town loved! Down the old asthma patient again had early experienced the conviction that one can almost that. Imagine how the city 's walls the nature of destiny and the as... Hot shrill whistling of summer and the priest 's outer composure as well as the plague began — all! Climax in part four who needs a time-out processes, a heresy quality the! He will stay, we probably learn more about Rieux than we do about Rambert assumed civic. Educated physician can become as absurd as the plague the blackboard, like a Camus,! Has allowed us to the streets 's lengthening of the Nazi occupation of France beginning in spring 1940 a ``... Anyone may be a longer time for looking and contemplation the Prefect and most of the 's! During her absence, his mother, who was half-deaf, worked a. Encased within their city chapter, chapter 5 of part 5 Tarrou notes begins!

Students Promoted To Next Semester Due To Corona, Sony Rx10 V Specs, Palo Verde Tree Roots Invasive, Retail Banking Features, Bash Readarray Example,