The Doctor Doing the Best He Can

            As previously argued by Cristina Valencia, the doctor is seen as evolving into a man of little compassion. However, I do not agree with this statement. The example she sites in relation to the reporter, Raymond Rambert, does not show the doctor’s lack of compassion, but rather it highlights his medical foresight. He understands that allowing one person to leave the town due to emotional needs is an enormous risk; he could carry with him fleas that could then begin to exponentially spread the plague to other regions. Dr. Rieux faces the crisis of what is good for the city, and in turn the world, as whole versus what is good for the individual. Regarding the “greater good”, he realizes that the plague must be contained because if not, its affects could be disastrous on a global scale. He realizes that if he started making exceptions for individual cases such as Rambert, he would not only be responsible for catalyzing the spread of the plague, but he would also be favoring these select few. He cannot allow Rambert to leave and force others, who have loved ones outside the city as well, to stay. Allowing Rambert to leave would force him to allow all the others to leave, and this would most certainly spread the plague to surrounding regions. By his supposed callousness in the face of Rambert’s plea he is protecting the global community from an outbreak of a disease that could potentially demolish the population. In his refusal of this individual’s request he is saving the lives of countless more. Given the doctors situation I believe he is acting appropriately, for in times of such turmoil as this, the good of the whole often needs to be put above the well being of the individual.