The plague begins slowly - noted casually by one doctor. In time, Dr. Rieux, convinced that Oran is on the cusp of a plague, alerts authorities to the imminent dangers. "We'll shovel the dead rats off the streets" they tell him, that should take care of it.
With dead rats came fleas, more illness, and multiple deaths. Households not affected by the illness paid it no mind and went about their lives. When the rich folks became sick, people took notice.
The evolution of this plague unfolds through the eyes of an objective observer, painting both the big picture of the disease, and also the smaller, human stories that emerge when there is fear, when dealing with the unknown becomes a daily obsession, and when, despite strong evidence, there is denial.
This is a tiny book, and the translation from the original French is stark - annoying to me at times but appropriate for the bleak theme. Understanding how great plagues in history evolved informed Camus as he structured his narrative. Surprisingly these epidemics all followed the same pattern. The parallels to Covid are evident, and I can't help but wonder why these historical references were not heeded by the people who had the power to take action earlier. Well, we won't go there since I think most of you reading this are of the same mind as I.
Much of what Camus writes is strangely, uncomfortably similar to our lives. Bubbling throughout the novel is Camus' existential philosophy - why act, why choose when there is nothing to be done to change the situation. What will be will be, I guess. Thankfully, in the end, his narrator tells us that through all the angst, fear, and waiting for resolution, he learned that there are more good people in the world than bad. That's a nice thought to be left with in these times when that is exactly what we need - nice thoughts.
Thanks for stopping by
Stay Safe. Stay healthy. Stay happy.
Only 10 more weeks until spring. We can manage that!
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