Cottard

This man, previously described as being reclusive, in this section of the novel becomes far more outgoing. The readers are introduced to him when he first attempts to kill himself before the disease has started infecting humans. Now, however, he seems to have recovered from his “fit”. He now appears to be attempting to make a very public display of himself. As Grand comments, “I don’t quite know how to put it, but I must say I’ve an impression that he is trying to make himself agreeable to all and sundry, to be in everybody’s good books” (53). He has become “amiable” (53) where before he was a “silent, secretive man, with something about him that made Grand think of a wild boar” (53). Cottar is making a point to try and endear himself to everyone; he is even making friends with a woman tobacconist who Grand says is a “holy terror”. Before, whereas he was likely to eat in small cheep restaurants he is now dining in lavish venues and leaving large tips. Aside from this change, he also seems to be acting strangely. When the grocer “had shown less affability, he came home in a tearing rage” (54), and when the woman at the tobacconist’s brought up a murder case he turned around and fled without another word. He asks if someone can be arrested in a hospital, and is cited commenting on how someone would “make a good witness” (54). His behavior is highly indicative of a man with something on his conscience, as Grand believes. However, the doctor simply dismisses it as perhaps his fear of the “fever”. The nearsightedness of the doctor that has been see in pervious sections of the novel is present again here; he fails to comprehend the implications of Cottard’s actions. Cottard in this section of the novel acts highly suspicious- possibly he has committed a serious crime, something serious enough that he would consider getting sick and going to the hospital in order to avoid arrest.