Some Light in the Darkness of the Plague

            As formerly seen, in this novel riddled with suffering and death, comedic relief is necessary. In this section of the novel comedic relief is seen through the previously described as shy character Grand. Doctor Rieux described frequently watching him run off to work on some mysterious project. In this section of the novel that product of all his late-nights is revealed – a book. Grand and Dr. Rieux go out for drinks after a particularly depressing day for Rieux, as the death toll is forever climbing, and Grand – after shooting a glass of straight liquor- begins to lighten up. He becomes outspoken in a way the doctor has never seen before. So outspoken that he finally confides to the doctor that he is a writer and has been laboring tirelessly over his new creation. He describes that he has spent “Evenings, whole weeks, spent on one world, just think!” (103). The irony of his proclamation is that it entices the reader to believe that he has been making real headway in the novel. Grand further defies his previous shyness by inviting the doctor into his apartment to see his latest creation. He dramatically leads up to the moment by pouring himself a drink and asking Dr. Rieux if he would like one. Finally, he sits down and picks up the stack of papers, presumably the novel he has been working on. Even though Grand is being uncharacteristically expressive the reader can tell it makes him nervous, for “the paper shook in his hand and Rieux noticed that his forehead was moist with sweat” (104). After further pause, he reads… One sentence. After all the buildup, Rieux reads the doctor his work- and it is one sentence. This irony serves to lighten the mood of the novel as the plague takes a deadly turn.