The Plague by Albert Camus Albert Camus published The Plague in 1947. Summary and Meaning of Camus’ “The Plague”. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “The Plague” by Albert Camus. Notes by Jean Tarrou, one of the characters, are inserted into the novel. (He goes on to explain that this "same boat" is … They come to recognize the plague as a collective disaster that is everyone's concern. The plague represents this absurdity. What then should we do? Only after it becomes impossible to deny that a serious epidemic is ravaging Oran, do the authorities enact strict sanitation measures, placing the whole city under quarantine. The Plague, is a novel by Albert Camus, published in 1947, that tells the story of a plague sweeping the French Algerian city of Oran.It asks a number of questions relating to the nature of destiny, and the human condition. Required fields are marked *. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs. Cottard committed a crime (which he does not name) in the past, so he has lived in constant fear of arrest and punishment. He doesn’t treat his patients for no other reason than that he sympathizes with their undeserved plight. The gods watch the unfolding calamity with arms folded either unwilling or unable to do anything. Still, all we can do is care for each other. The authorities finally arrange for the daily collection and cremation of the rats. The hotel manager, dismayed at the dead rats in his three-star hotel, takes no comfort in Tarrou's assurance that everyone is in the same boat. By mid-August people no longer feel like individuals – the plague has swallowed everything and become a collective disaster. The surface story is about plague in the early 1940s visiting the Algerian coastal city of Oran. They declare martial law to control violence and looting; conduct funerals without ceremony or concern for the families of the deceased. eNotes plot summaries cover all the significant action of The Plague. It’s definitely worth a watch. His black hair is clipped very close. Soon thereafter, M. Michel, the concierge for the building where Dr. Rieux works, dies after falling ill … He accepts the absurdity of suffering, death, and meaninglessness, but battles them nonetheless. Complete summary of Albert Camus' The Plague. Deeply convinced that his lawyer-father was wrong to demand the death sentence for a criminal, and later disillusioned when his revolutionary party guns down former heads of state, Tarrou believes man is too frequently a party to murder. The characters in the book, ranging from doctors to vacationers to fugitives, all help to show the effects the plague has on a populace. ____________________________________________________________________. Summary. An antiplague serum is developed but it doesn’t save even an innocent child. Albert Camus’ ‘The Plague’ and our own Great Reset Two police officers are the only ones on Rome’s Spanish Steps on March 10 amid the coronavirus outbreak. The Plague, published in 1947, was Albert Camus’ international breakthrough. Access Full Document. MonkeyNotes Study Guides Download Store-Downloadable Study Guides/Book Summary,Book Notes,Notes,Chapter Summary/Synopsis. Heavy winds sweep through the town, and the plague begins striking the wealthier districts just as much as the poorer ones. Moreover, wishful thinking doesn’t help, but instead, it distorts reality. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion The Plague, by Albert Camus was first published in 1947. This is what the novel’s hero does, fighting defiantly against absurdity. We all have the plague; we live in it midst; and we don’t deserve it. This particular plague happens in a Algerian port town called Oran in the 1940s. The Plague (French: La Peste) is a novel by Albert Camus, published in 1947, that tells the story from the point of view of an unknown narrator of a plague sweeping the French Algerian city of Oran. Gradually deaths from the plague start to decline and people begin to celebrate. He tries to escape by illegal means with the help of Cottard's criminal associates. The Plague Summary. Gradually, people become despondent, wasting away both emotionally and physically. Book: The Plague. The novel presents a snapshot of life in Oran as seen through the author's distinctive absurdist point of view. But many of the main characters have died of the disease. Here is a brief summary of Camus’ essay “The Myth of Sisyphus,” the best introduction to his philosophy. After much death and … In 1948, Stephen Spender wrote for the Book Review about Albert Camus’s “The Plague,” a novel about an epidemic spreading across the French Algerian city of Oran. When Part II begins, he says, "From now on, it can be said that plague was the concern of all of us." Express care and concern for our fellow travelers and try to help them. Also, The School of Life produced an excellent, short video about the novel’s philosophical themes. Subscribe to ReasonandMeaning and receive notifications of new posts by email. Meanwhile, Rieux, Tarrou, and Grand doggedly battle the death and suffering wrought by the plague. We do this primarily by struggling against suffering and death even if our efforts fail. The Plague is a novel about a plague epidemic in the large Algerian city of Oran. Learn how your comment data is processed. The key to understanding Camus’ novels is to know that he was an atheist and an existentialist who emphasized the absurd—the conflict between our desire for value and meaning and our inability to find any in a meaningless and irrational universe. It's a fictional story written about the very real town of Oran in Northern Algeria. Your email address will not be published. The Plague is considered an existentialist classic, despite Camus' objection to the label. He is in his thirties, is handsome, and does not believe in God. That’s what the novel’s hero Dr. Rieux does. The story is narrated to us by an odd, nameless narrator strangely obsessed with objectivity, who tends to focus on a man named Dr. Bernard Rieux. His works include The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Fall, and The Rebel. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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It provides a thorough exploration of the novel’s plot, characters and main themes, including war, guilt and disease. A wanderer who comes innocuously to Oran, he stays to help Rieux battle the plague and becomes its last victim. When he falls ill, he refuses to consult a doctor, leaving his fate entirely in the hands of divine Providence. It is a constant companion of our transitory lives. Dr. Rieux records him as a "doubtful case.". The young son of M. Othon, the strict local magistrate, comes down with the plague and Rieux and his companions – among them Father Paneloux – watch him suffer and die. He greets the plague epidemic with open arms because he no longer feels alone in his fearful suffering. Before too long, thousands of the creatures are making their way to … Analysis. Summary Of Albert Camus's The Plague 747 Words | 3 Pages. The plague is neither rational nor just. Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett address these questions in The Plague and Waiting for Godot. They shouldn’t be surprised. When a cluster of similar cases appears, Dr. Rieux's colleague, Castel, becomes certain that the illness is the bubonic plague. The situation worsens and the authorities shoot people who try to flee. At the beginning of the novel he bids farewell to his wife, who is going to stay in a sanitarium. The main character, the atheist Dr. Bernard Rieux, realizes there is a plague, but the authorities are slow to accept the situation, fighting over how to respond. From the title, you know this book is about a plague. They confront their social responsibility and join the anti-plague efforts. Paneloux falls ill and dies soon afterwards, … … When the epidemic ends, Cottard cannot cope. 9782806269140 50 EBook Plurilingua Publishing This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Outsider by Albert Camus. Learn more about The Plague with a detailed plot summary and plot diagram. Yet people forget all this. The mess starts when rats everywhere die. Camus did not believe in God, nor did he agree with the vast majority of the historical beliefs of the Christian religion. It provides a thorough exploration of the novel’s plot, characters and main themes, including justice, society and the Absurd. In April, thousands of rats stagger into the open and die. Neither wealth nor education completely shield us from microscopic pathogens. Life is fleeting, our lives are ephemeral. When a mild hysteria grips the population, the newspapers begin clamoring for action. Many would disagree with that (including philosophers). The Plague is a novel about a plague epidemic in the large Algerian city of Oran. Death doesn’t await us at the end of the tracks, it’s right here, now. Dr. Benard Rieux- About 35 years. However, it is a modern masterpiece of allegory, symbolism and imagery. Lisez « The Plague by Albert Camus Summary & Study Guide » de BookRags disponible chez Rakuten Kobo. Father Paneloux delivers a stern sermon, declaring that the plague is God's punishment for Oran's sins. The Plague is his chronicle of the scene of human suffering that all too many people are willing to forget. In April, thousands of rats stagger into the open and die. Rambert finalizes his escape plan, but, after Tarrou tells him that Rieux is likewise separated from his wife, Rambert is ashamed to flee. When the plague of dead rats entices the cats away, the little old man seems greatly disappointed. Paneloux, deeply shaken by the boy's death, delivers a second sermon that modifies the first. Liked it? He and Dr. Rieux are forced to confront the indifference and denial of the authorities and other doctors in their attempts to urge quick, decisive action. Soon thereafter, M. Michel, the concierge for the building where Dr. Rieux works, dies after falling ill with a strange fever. As I write, the world collectively continues to bear the weight of the coronavirus pandemic; it wears on without clear end in sight. After the term of exile lasts several months, many of Oran's citizens lose their selfish obsession with personal suffering. (Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images) Albert Camus’ The Plague is a laugh RIOT! The priest argues that the child’s suffering is a test of faith—the priest soon dies too. Modern antibiotics are effective in treating it. Des milliers de livres avec la livraison chez vous en 1 jour ou en magasin avec -5% de réduction ou téléchargez la version eBook. Soon the hospitals are overflowing and many die. Dr. Rieux’s wife, who was being treated elsewhere for an unrelated illness, also dies. But Camus believed that we should revolt against absurdity—not by cowardly committing suicide or fleeing into religious faith—but by taking responsibility for our lives, enjoying the goodness and beauty around us, and by creating our own meaning in an objectively meaningless world. He dies clutching his crucifix, but the symptoms of his illness do not match those of the plague. Albert Camus's The Plague Plot Summary. He adds that "once the town gates were shut, everyone of us realized that all, the narrator included, were […] in the same boat." Dr. Rieux controls his emotions in order to continue his work, while others seemingly flourish due to their close connection with strangers. The whole doc is available only for registered users OPEN DOC. They’re surprised that they’re vulnerable, that their status or accomplishments don’t provide immunity. Just kidding, it is about the bubonic plague, really not very funny at all. His novel The Plague has recently garnered much worldwide attention do to the pandemic of 2020. The people react differently to the town’s quarantine. The Plague Summary. In the town of Oran, thousands of rats die. Some try to commit suicide or covertly leave town; a priest assumes the plague is divine punishment; a criminal becomes wealthy as a smuggler; and others, like Dr. Rieux, treat patients as best they can. He declares that the inexplicable deaths of innocents force the Christian to choose between believing everything and believing nothing about God. But first a very brief plot summary. Albert Camus (1913 – 1960) was a French author and philosopher who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. Money has stopped flowing in and out of the bay, and once again there is irony as Rieux describes several Oranians gazing out at the corpse-like ships afloat. The novel “The Plague” by Albert Camus is composed of 5 parts. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis … The Plague Summary. Like Like This is our MonkeyNotes downloadable and printable book summary/booknotes/synopsis for "The Plague" by Albert Camus in PDF format. Your email address will not be published. In the beginning we find out that the novel is a chronological diary. As a philosopher familiar with Camus’ thought, I’d like to highlight the book’s main philosophical themes. Now they look upon a scene of stagnation. Quotes with Page Number The Plague by Albert Camus. Summary and Meaning of Camus’ “The Plague” April 9, 2020 Existentialism Albert Camus (1913 – 1960) was a French author and philosopher who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. He chooses to stay behind and help fight the epidemic. Dr. Bernard Rieux is the first to intuit that things are not right with the city when he notices a sudden spike in the number of dead rats around town. The manager snootily explains that he is bothered precisely because his hotel is now like everyone else. “The narrator concludes the novel by stating that there is more to admire than to despise in humans.”. The plague is always with us—our lives can end at any moment. There is no justice regarding who lives and dies from the plague; there is no rational or moral meaning to be derived from it; religious myths or angry gods don’t explain it. Grand, having recovered from a bout of plague, vows to make a fresh start in life. A greek philosopher, Thucydides, once said “The secret to happiness is freedom... And the secret to freedom is courage” (Thucydides). Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The author told us the events happening during the plague in the city Oran on the Algerian coast that counts only 200.000 citizens. Take a second to support Dr John Messerly on Patreon! An intelligent, dutiful, and tireless doctor in the town of Oran, Dr. Rieux is revealed at the end to be the narrator of the chronicle that comprises the novel. He accumulates a great deal of wealth as a smuggler during the epidemic. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44 in 1957, the second-youngest recipient in history. The authorities finally arrange for the daily collection and cremation of the rats. The public reacts to their sudden imprisonment with intense longing for absent loved ones. 9782806270160 29 EBook Plurilingua Publishing This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Plague by Albert Camus. Paneloux is shaken by the child’s death and he delivers a second sermon, this time declaring that the horrors of plague leave only the choice to believe everything (about Christianity) or deny everything. The plague continues for months and again responses vary. The narrator concludes the novel by stating that there is more to admire than to despise in humans. He begins randomly firing his gun into the street until he is captured by the police. We live in a plague filled world. Tarrou writes about a family of four with a disagreeable, strict father, M. Othon, who dines every day at the hotel. Introduced as a surgeon, and is one of the first urge action to be taken Of moderate height, dark skinned, and broad-shouldered; he has dark steady eyes, a big, well-modeled nose, and thick, tight-set lips. The narrative tone is similar to Kafka's, especially in The Trial, whose individual sentences potentially have multiple meanings, the material often pointedly resonating as stark allegory of phenomenal consciousness, and the human condition. They indulge in selfish personal distress, convinced that their pain is unique in comparison to common suffering. The Oranians, you remember, seldom looked at the bay or responded to the natural sea beauty on their city's edge. People become hysterical and the authorities respond by killing rats. This study guide and infographic for Albert Camus's The Plague offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Nothing makes much sense. Eventually, they declare a pandemic. Retrouvez The Plague by Albert Camus Summary & Analysis et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. I found myself hesitant, therefore, to pick up Albert Camus’ The Plague, worried it would only increase my general unease. Access Full Document. It is the 1940s in Oran, a French-occupied Algerian colony. Pages: 5 Words: 1095 Views: 1550. For the plague is everywhere—people suffer and die; psychopaths create havoc; nations commit genocide. Albert Camus (/ k æ ˈ m uː / kam-OO, US also / k ə ˈ m uː / kə-MOO, French: [albɛʁ kamy] (); 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, and journalist. When M. Othon's small son suffers a prolonged, excruciating death from the plague, Dr. Rieux shouts at Paneloux that he was an innocent victim. Please Sign Up to get full document. Miracle cures won’t work and real cures aren’t right around the corner. Tarrou dies just as the epidemic is waning, but he battles with all his strength for his life, just as he helped Rieux battle for the lives of others. First the rats are dying in the streets of the Algerian coastal city Oran, then the plague breaks out. At first, everyone is in denial. The plague has sealed the harbor. Raymond Rambert endeavors to escape Oran to rejoin his wife in Paris, but the city's bureaucrats refuse to let him leave. Priest argues that the novel presents a snapshot of life in Oran as seen through the author told us events! 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