The mindful doctor

It is argued that the protagonist, Dr. Bernard Rieux, does not pay any attention to the influx of rats in his town of Oran, however, I disagree. Though Rieux is preoccupied with his wife’s illness he continues to show an unwavering concern toward the new rodents.
      Dr. Bernard Rieux first discovers a rat when he is leaving his apartment. Occupied by thoughts of his wife he does not pay much attention to the animal. Nonetheless, the narrator explains his inattention as being done “on the spur of the moment,” (7). After stepping out onto the street he soon realizes the significance of the dead rat and proceeds to tell M. Michel who is his concierge. The narrator goes on to describe Rieux as being “categorical” (7) when trying to validate that he really did see the rodent. Furthermore, Rieux notices “that the rats are a great topic of conversation” (9) between his patients. When Rieux visits with the journalist, Raymond Rambert, he suggests to Rambert to, “say something about the extraordinary number of dead rats that were being found in the town,” (12). This demonstrates that Rieux is attentive to the worries of his patients.

      The last scene in the novel takes place in Rieux’s apartment when he visits his sick concierge - who he thinks might have an influenza brought upon by the rats. When Rieux realizes there is nothing he can do, he calls the hospital. Ultimately, M. Michel dies by his side. The impact of Michel’s death foreshadows Rieux’s passionate desire to find a cure to the disease spread by the rodents.