Paneloux’s Sermon

            I found the sermon rather confusing and misleading – also rather contradictory. He says “his first sermon still held good – such anyhow, was [Paneloux’s] belief” (223). However, he then goes on to that instead of trying to explain it the population should try to learn from it. Previously, he went so far as to clearly explain it: he said that God sent the plague to the town of Oran because the people had drifted in their faith, because they had moved to far towards materialistic ideals instead of religion (Christian) ones and that the plague was an unstoppable force not to be reckoned with. He said everyone should simply accept the punishment but should continue to love God. He says he has not changed his previous belief but he then goes on to directly contradict it: “There was no question of not taking precautions or failing to comply with orders wisely promulgated for the public weal in the disorders of a pestilence. Nor should we listen to certain moralists who told us to sink to our knees and give up the struggle. No, we should go forward, groping our way through the darkness, stumbling perhaps at times, and try to do what good lay in our power” (227). This is a direct contradiction of his previous beliefs. He seems somewhat confused throughout the sermon; Rieux observes he seems to be wasting time through some of it. In the end Tarrou comes to a conclusion about the true meaning of the sermon: “Paneloux declines to lose his faith, and he will go through with it to the end. That’s what he meant to say” (229). He is fighting to maintain his faith in an ever loosing battle surrounded by misery and sorrow that is hard to credit God for without questioning his belief.

Same old same old

            The book continues to repeat itself. In the previous 230 pages the narrator has followed a sort of cycle: he talks about the devastation of the plague, he talks about how it separates families and lovers, he talks about the isolation these people feel, and he talks about how the sanitation squads are working to bring and end to it. I find this cycle rather tiring. There are some seemingly catalystic moments in the plot – for instance when  Rambert decides to stay and help with the plague effort, when Grand started helping, and when Cottard became happy at the worsening of the plague. All of these interruptions to the monotony are only brief. Soon the narrator returns to his predictable plot line. In this section of the novel, like in the previous ones, it discusses the worsening of the plague and how the people feel isolated and desolate; how they feel little hope that the plague will ever end. How, once they viewed the end as coming soon and now it is an abstract, far-away concept. He discusses how some think it may never end. In summation: he discusses the desolation in spirit and physicality of the town, again. However, there is one brief digression from the repetition and it is related to one previously seen: Paneloux gives another sermon. 

Things Taking a Turn for the Best: CRISTINA VALENCIA

In this section of the novel, Dr. Castel finishes making the first batch of serum (in an effort to cure the death defying plague). Ironically, the first person to receive a dosage of the serum is Othon’s son. When taking the serum, Othon’s son “suffers terribly” as Tarrou, Paneloux, and Dr. Reiux watch in horror. In the heat of the moment, Dr. Rieux who his feeling an immense sense of guilt begins screaming at Paneloux claiming that the boy died in vain. I find Dr. Reiux’s actions very surprising. Dr. Rieux, who has been a witness to the vast amounts of deaths caused by the bubonic plague, reacts surprised to the death of Othon’s “young and innocent boy”. Dr. Rieux’s reaction demonstrates his inherent confusion with the situation he is faced. Through his actions, Dr. Rieux is demonstrating an utter sense of confusion. Through the death of his wife and all the innocent victims attacked by the plague, he finds no way to keep his head up or remain content with the life he is forced to live. I certainly believe that Dr. Rieux acted out in this way because he wants to die. Dr. Rieux is jealous of the young boy and believes this innocent young boy has more of a reason to live then he, himself. Dr. Reiux, the doctor who is expected to help all the civilians in the town of Oran, that is now behaving in this manner demonstrates that there is no hope left for survival.

A Time for Escape: CRISTINA VALENCIA

Finally, there comes a point in the novel where a definite method of escape is given to Rambert. However, unexpectedly, Rambert, chooses to stay in the town of Oran because of his sense of “guilt”. Rambert believes it shameful to leave during this time of ultimate despair. Nevertheless, I find this very ironic because he really wanted to leave in the beginning of the novel and the individuals in the town of Oran felt the same amount of desperation (for the most part). Rambert poses as an interesting character throughout the novel. Though I am not quite sure of the role he plays, he does gives readers a better perception or deeper understanding of the sentiments of the characters. Nevertheless, I do believe Rambert’s position of importance still goes unnoticed. The only reason I really believe Rambert that Rambert is a significant character is his views on the plague. His dynamic perspective of first yearning the outside world and opting for staying in the flu-infested world gives readers a sense of loyalty between Rambert and the people living in the town of Oran. Though Camus never establishes the development of Rambert’s connection with the people of Oran or the reason as to why he now feels a certain loyalty to these people he wrote about feeling estranged from. Nevertheless, I sincerely find him to be a newly dynamic character that brings more of a developing character conflict.

The Child

During Mr. Shapiro’s lecture he was talking about filters created through life experience. As we grow and learn our filters become more complex, clouded. The filters affect more and more how we see and experience the world around us. However, children, without life experience an understanding of society and the guidelines it imposes, possess the clearest filters. Nothing affects how they perceive or experience the world around them. They possess no bias with which to view events, no pre-existing guidelines to compare anything too. Their perception of the world is completely honest and pure. This is why watching the child suffer so deeply affected everyone present: Grand, Tarrou, Dr. Rieux, Dr. Castel, and Paneloux (the priest). They have dealt with thousands upon thousands of deaths – they are viewed as every day occurrences. And death by the plague, as they all know, is never pleasant. People suffer before they die – often for long periods of time. However, watching the child suffer affected them in ways watching no other death had. Watching the tortured death of the child affected him so because this child is the embodiment of innocence. As other patients lie dying, and have accepted their imminent death as a result of the knowledge of the fatality of the plague, the child lacks this knowledge. The child knows only one thing – a fight for survival, the most primal instinct. An instinct the other sufferers are not affected with because it has been overridden as a result of their knowledge of the plague – instead of fight they give in to it. The child fights with everything he has, and watching him fight the plague and loose is unbearable to all present. 

The Change of Heart

Watching the child suffer and fight death with everything he had deeply affected these two individuals. The child’s “angry death-cry” (216) seemed to create a chorus of suffering throughout the ward: “the wail continued without cease and the other sufferers began to grow restless” (217). Not only did it affect these two people but it affected everyone present – even the other patients infected with the same ailment, because the death of an innocent child is a terrible thing to witness, the ending of a life before the life has even begun. Rieux reacts in a way we see him react to no other death – he cannot stand watching the child suffer. This death causes him to loose faith in the world – something up to this point, even among all the death and suffering he had retained. He exclaims, “I shall refuse to love a scheme of things in which children are put to torture” (218). He says, that he cannot love a world were innocent children die torturous deaths. Paneloux, the priest who recently abandoned his theory that the plague was an unstoppable force of god and joined the sanitation squads, is also deeply affected. This is seen by Rieux’s parting comment “What I hate is death and disease, as you well know. And whether you wish it or not we’re allies, facing them and fighting them together… So you see God Himself can’t part us now” (219). When he doesn’t contradict this statement by Rieux, he illustrates his disillusionment as a result of watching the death of this child. 

Entertainment

In this part of the novel Cottard and Tarrou go to an Opera together. It was mentioned early in the novel, like Lauren said, that Tarrou had an interest in Cottard because of his general acceptance to the plague. We also know that the reason for this general acceptance of the plague is that Cottard was originally a wanted man before the plague and with this quarantine the police have bigger problems than him, so he is more relaxed and doesn't have to worry about the authorities. Cottard proceeded to invite Tarrou to the Opera in order for them to have some down time and relax. It is interesting to see that the people in Oran forget the plague outside and take the Opera as a place to escape and go back to the way things were before. Everyone dresses to impress others and it is even said that the "evening dress was a sure charm against the plague" (200). Ironically the performers are trapped in Oran and though they are trapped they give the people a means to escape. It is interesting to see that even the performers are not immune to the plague because even they have contracted the disease.

Video on the Plague: CRISTINA VALENCIA

VIDEO ON AN EXPLANATION OF "THE PLAGUE": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5EWNTf3LSs This review of the novel written by Albert Camus allows me better to understand the significance of the horrid plague. With beginning the book in late August, I tend to forget the beginning of the novel. However, this quick analysis/interpretation allows me to better understand the meaning of the novel.

“What’s true of all the evils in the world is true of plague as well. It helps men to rise above themselves."

(pg.118)This was a line said by Dr. Rieux to Tarrou. I believe it is very true. Evil, hardships, obstacles make us better people by challenging what we believe in and how we set in motion our beliefs. The plague has made the people of Oran rise above their routine, humdrum lives into caring active members of the community that appreciate life. Standing back up after a defeat is the number one way to grow, to learn from what you did incorrectly and build from there. The people of Oran fell like their lives are threatened and they look back at everything that was wrong with it. Their alienation from their neighbor, from themselves they were alive, but not living. Now they are starting to live again. The pressure that the plague is putting on their lives is of course horrible, but it will in the future bring them much progress and prosperity as individuals and as a community.

"The Coming of the Plague": CRISTINA VALENCIA

(Poem about the Plague) "The Coming of the Plague" By: Weldon Kees September was when it began. Locusts dying in the fields; our dogs Silent, moving like shadows on a wall; And strange worms crawling; flies of a kind We had never seen before; huge vineyard moths; Badgers and snakes, abandoning Their holes in the field; the fruit gone rotten; Queer fungi sprouting; the fields and woods Covered with spiderwebs; black vapors Rising from the earth - all these, And more began that fall. Ravens flew round The hospital in pairs. Where there was water, We could hear the sound of beating clothes All through the night. We could not count All the miscarriages, the quarrels, the jealousies. And one day in a field I saw A swarm of frogs, swollen and hideous, Hundreds upon hundreds, sitting on each other, Huddled together, silent, ominous, And heard the sound of rushing wind. My interpretation: As I read the "Coming of the Plague" written by Weldon Kees, I was able to gain a better understanding of the horrors of the plague. Throughout his novel, Albert Camus, is describing the consequences of the plague. Nevertheless, I believe that Kees does a better job explaining the outcome of the horrid plague unlike, Camus. find the poem interesting because it describes EVERYTHING that happened throughout the plague unlike Camus who spends five chapters explaining the sentiments of the individuals effected by the plague.

The Plague Parody

Historical Background

So speculation is that The Plague was inspired by a cholera outbreak that happened in Oran in the 1940s. Oran is situated in the Northwest of Africa, in Algeria. Algeria borders the Mediterranean and was a colony of the French at the time that Camus wrote the Plague. The narrator does not specify what year specifically what year it is, but he does mention 194- which gives us a nice time frame of the year it was taking place. The 1940s were a time of war (WWII) and actual plagues, so I can totally see where this whole war like description thing comes into play. Camus is like channeling his surroundings into his book, but enough about Camus, back to Oran. Oran has actually been featured in more than one book as the setting. Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quijote, wrote a novel in 1615 titled "El Gallardo Español" which took place in Oran. What is the appeal of Oran? Well it is not the biggest town in Algeria, but it is not the smallest. It was once under Spanish dominion, then French. It has lived a couple of full-moons.

Rambert Decides to Stick Around

Up until this point in the plot Rambert has been almost single-mindedly obsessed with escaping the town. He is a reporter from France who was caught here when the plague hit and the town was quarantined. He has since acted selfishly – believing that his case to leave the town and be with his girlfriend was more important than those trying to leave the town to be reunited with their families. He never even gave a thought to the fact that by leaving he could, singlehandedly, cause a devastating spread of the plague. He has thought of nothing else but his escape – never bothering to think of how it may affect others. However, when is first attempt is thwarted he begins to work on the sanitation quads – only he prefaces – until he manages to escape the plague. This is an improvement to his character for now – although he still wants to escape – he is helping fight the plague that is devastating the town he views himself as an outsider to. However, in this section of the novel he is actually given the opportunity to escape. He goes through all the motions – he even goes and lives at the guard’s houses who are trying to help him escape to make it less suspicious. However, while he still maintains he wants to escape to be reunited with his love – as seen through his talk with the guard’s mother – he does not seem to be as passionate about it. Finally, he has a complete change of heart. He realizes that he, whether he likes it or not, he has become a part of the town. He feels responsible; he feels like he would be acting shamefully if he left. Which is a truth. Even when Rieux selflessly encourages him to find happiness and leave the horrors of the town bind, Rambert says that he cannot when he is leaving behind so much unhappiness simply to find his own – he knows it would not be right. Finally, Rambert is acting with diginity. 

The Metaphor of the Plague

Cottard and Tarrou go to see a plague. As previously pointed out in the book Tarrou is interested in Cottard because not only does he not seem to mind the plague, but he appears to be prospering as a result of it. This is all because not, that the town has fallen into complete disarray, he will not be arrested for whatever crime he committed. While other wish for the plague to leave the town, Cottard enjoys its presence. Enjoying his time, he invited Tarrou to go to an Opera. While in the Opera house they observe the lengths many have gone to in an effort to impress, as if “evening dress was a sure charm against plague” (200). There is irony in how, because the opera group is trapped in the town as a result of the plague, the town gains an escape from the plague in watching the operas. Inside the opera house people act as they would in the absence of the plague – dressing grandly, making an entrance to impress those around them. They try and cling to the things they found important before the plague devastated the town. However, as it has in all aspects of life, the plague finds its way into the Opera – effectively destroying all relief the citizens have from it. At first the actor simply looks as if he is taking creative license, however, it becomes apparent he is a victim when he “stagger[s] grotesquely to the footlights, his arms and legs splaying out under his antique robe”  (200). This scene is the “dramatic picture of [Cottar and Tarrou’s] life in those days, the plague on the stage in the guise of a disarticulated mummer, and in the auditorium the toys of luxury, so futile now, forgotten fans and lace shawls derelict on the red plush seats” (201). 

Dr.R & things

Dr. Rieux is my favorite character in the Plague. He is distant, methodical and professional. He works like a dog to save people's lives and does not consider himself a hero. Due to the fact that the Paris serum does not work he delivers more bad news than good, but he even holds a good standing in what I believe to be the meaning of the whole novel. Even when it is hopeless, he continues his work. Not for the praise nor glorie, just for his profession, an admirable behavior in which he  had before.
Dr. Rieux's wife is recuperating outside or Oran and by herself, the loneliness and the warmth of another person missing for the fully recovery. In regards to the progression of the novel, not has not really changed as I though it would, there are still people dying, Cottard doesn't spill his secret, dr. r talks to rambert, rambert sets up a million meetings to leave illegally. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Like th plague. Death, death death.

Funerals

The burials in Oran reflect the feeling of its inhabitants as the plague progresses. It is an inversely proportional relationship between the severity of the plague and the attention and drama of the funerals. At the begining, when people started dying, each death was recorded, grieved and buried. As the plague got worse and more people died, they started to care less about how bodies were disposed of, but still performed some rituals and threw them into gender segregated pitches. As the number of dead increased,  they were running out of space to put all of the bodies so they just started creating them. The worst part is, that the narrator does not even call it cremating, he just says burning, in masses. No ceremony, no keeping ashes, nothing. People wanted to distance themselves as much as they could. Even though they wanted to distance themselves, they wanted out of the plage, some even were to the point that they wanted to contract the plague just to get out of the hell hole that was Oran.

Doctors

Doctors take a oath to do no harm and to do all in their power to help the sick an dying. I see Rieux as a man who is adamant about always doing his best to save lives and in this current situation with Oran it must be extremely hard on him. A disease with no cure, people always thinking that you are just not doing your best. It is said in the book that "it wasn't medical aid that he dispensed in those crowded days - only information" (193). It shows how little power the doctors now have to make any difference in the lives of the sick and dying. They simply tell them what they have and leave them to their fate. Where before the doctors were saviors and guardian, they now are simply messengers. Rieux's way to cope with this and his lack of sleep has been to become emotionless and this was turning people against him. Now he even needed to be accompanied by soldiers, because these people, knowing that their death is imminent these people want to take anyone they can with them in there last moments of despair. Though people have become for the most part indifferent, it can be seen that they still have emotion, when they know their death is imminent everything comes flooding back.

The Fighting Man

It is said that the people of Oran have been "working themselves almost to a standstill" (190). They don't even take time to read newspapers or inform themselves on what is happening around the town anymore. It is interesting that still the only thing that interests the people is any rumor of some sort of cure for the plague, but since they have been stuck in this situation for so long and they are already so accustomed to false rumors the people only get slightly interested these stories. When it comes back to be false hope it no longer effects the people, they just brush it off and continue with their lives. The narrator describes these people as "worn out by the incessant strain and mindful only of the duties assigned to him, [and] has ceased to hope" (190). This simply shows how people have gone from a mentality of wanting to go back to their normal lives, to the point where they simply have accepted that this is their new life and there is nothing that they can do about it. Lastly, as time progresses one would imagine that at least there would be some idea of where this plague is going, but it is obvious that that is not true and no one seems to know if the plague is even getting worse or better.

A More Clear Understanding: CRISTINA VALENCIA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kScxc9DPrnY I did not realize that there was a series on the history channel that explained what the plague really was. This story synopsis of the effects brought upon by the the plague, left me more interested in what the plague really was and how it originated.

Utter Boredom: CRISTINA VALENCIA

 "The Plague"written by Albert Camus has no meaning, or at least that is what I think. As I come to the ending of the novel, I question what was the reason for Camus to write it.....It is a story about a plague, that is all. As I attempt to understand Camus' reasoning-I cannot because I feel as if he is stating the same thing throughout each chapter. I hope that as I reach the conclusion, I will able to understand the underlying message of the book.

The Doctor-a static character: CRISTINA VALENCIA

Throughout the novel, Grand frequently speaks about Jeanne to Rieux; inevitably, Rieux unburdens his anxiousness or worries about his wife to Jeanne. A friend the first time in the novel that Rieux actually makes knows this his worries about his wife. Before this, Rieux portrayed a confident exterior in which it almost seemed as if he was able to fortell the future, and knew his wife would be fine—however, this was no the case.

            In secrecy, Rieux verifies to his friend and confidant that his “wife will not make it”. Surprisingly so, Jeanne does not act with surprise or shock. This is most likely because he was awaiting this situation; and also maybe because he has numbed himself from the pain death brings. After releasing a portion of the sentiments Rieux has been holding in for a long time, he quickly went back to work and transformed back into his usual, monotous self.

            Being almost finished with the novel, I question the reason as to why author, Albert Camus, wanted to include Rieux in the novel. Other than in the scene in which Rieux divulges his sentiments, he has really brought nothing to the table. His static, almost tiresome behavior really has me wondering the Camus’ motives or reasoning. Although I have found the book to be monotmous, certain characters like Cottard and Jeanne has brought a certain sense of diversity to the plot. Rieux, on the other hand, has contributed nothing, nothing at all. 

A Change of Character: CRISTINA VALENCIA

In the beginning in the novel, the audience is introduced to Cottard- a man scared of the everyday occurrences in the world around him and of people inherent behaviors. However, now, Cottard has created a shift in his behavior—he is not scared anymore. This is a direct consequence of the fear brought on by the plague. The fear of the plague haunts all the individuals in the town of the Oran, and as a result, Cottard, is happy.

            In this strange situation or occurrence, Camus is trying to emphasize to his readers that Cottard and the individuals that live in Oran have an inverse relationship. When Cottard is unhappy, the individuals are happy; and when Cottard is not scared of what the world has to offer him, the individuals are afraid.

            Nevertheless, the audience now notices a flaw in Cottard’s new and improved character; he now, “craves human contact”. Some rationalize this is a direct consequence of Cottard’s dependent, scared nature. However, I believe it is because Camus has created a complex character and Camus wants to keep Cottard that way.   

            I find Cottard to be the most interesting character in the novel. Cottard’s idiosyncrasies bring about a conflict in the novel. His complexities further demonstrate a point Camus wants to distinguish to his readers: when some big, like a plague, hits a town, people begin losing their mind—it is inevitable. However unfortunate Cottard’s situation, he is in fear of human contact due to his fear of the plague.  

Burials

In this post I want to react to Cristina's post on the burials of the people of Oran. It is indeed interesting to see the change so drastically in the priorities of people with this Plague. As death becomes more a common part of people's day to day lives they give up rituals such as "proper burials". Everyone is thrown into mass graves with no form of identification. I agree with Cristina that this represents a sort of unity between the people of Oran. Everyone is treated exactly the same, the rich the poor the powerful, everyone. Through this new equality the community sees itself more united and it helps them further their progress towards full acceptance of their current situation. As a discussed in one of my previous posts the people are making progress in moving towards a more centralized way of thinking that allowed them to ignore what they cannot change or control and only focus on living with what they have and being satisfied with such.

Albert Camus

I thought it was interesting that Vero addressed the author, because obviously without him we would have this great work of literature. Vero gives a brief background on Albert and his life, and she also touches on that The Stranger and The Plague reflects Albert's views on society. I wanted to discuss the differences between the Stranger and The Plague and how they reflect different views about society. In the Stranger Albert deals with the concept of absurdity, a man who has no feeling towards anything and alienated himself from society almost completely, not by his actions, but by his inaction. Albert wrote the stranger during the Second World War, which sort of explains his want to deal with the absurd, because of people such as Hitler and Stalin with their absurd notions. After the war though Albert began to deal with stories of human struggle. The Plague is such a story, where society has to overcome some terrible disaster, the that case the plague itself. I think Albert was paralleling the struggles of people after the war in rebuilding and recovering. Much like the disease in The Plague, there is nothing the people can do about the germs, as in real life there is nothing the people can do about the war since it has already happened.

Hope

In this blog I would like to respond to Lauren's post. I understand the point she is making, in how everyone in Oran has started to disregard the plague, and has accepted it as part of their lives. Though that may be true I am not sure that is supposed to give a sense that there is still hope, but instead maybe a sense that people are overcoming difficulty. There is no hope, as it is even said in the book, "A good thing is I get the plague and have done with it" (183) people do not expect to get out of their current predicament. Instead I believe that this new attitude is a step in a spiritual overcoming of this hardship. The people no longer fear the plague, they no longer have false delusions, they live with it. The people see that there is no point in fighting the inevitable, instead they have learned to live with what they have a make the best of it. They live with what they have and have pushed aside and false delusions that they may have had before. I understand the point Lauren was trying to make and that is just the view I have taken on the situation. The book still has a good way to go and all of this may change soon.

If I was in Oran...

I am going to follow Paulo's line of inferring how  I think I would react if I were to be in those citizen's shoes. Although one does not know how one will react to such events, I believe that I would probably feel that everything will work out in the end. This sentiment is completely different from those of the citizens of Oran at this point. They have been quarantined in Oran for a long time and they are devoid of hope or creativity. The only way to combat such horrible conditions would be with innovation, pro-activity and most of all, hope. A population with hope and drive is capable of beating anything. From a start the people of Oran had drive, but individual drive. Drive to be successful in their endeavors, but they were not hopeful. They guided themselves with a toxic realism that turned into madness when the plague racked the town. They do now understand that sulking about it will make no difference in their current situation, and in order to get out alive, they have to work together. What they are missing is hope. Even if it is empty hope based on facilities. Even if they seem naive.

Albert Camus

Out author should be spoken of a bit more. Albert Camus was born in Dréan, Algeria. His childhood in Algeria and his adulthood in France greatly influence his writing. He moved to France in his 25, where he became a political journalist after part-taking in many social movements. He wrote a column in the newspaper Combat, he wrote literature, and also was really into theater. He even adapted plays from other languages to French. His background and interest in philosophy are very clear in The Plague, it also gives the novel depth and another meaning. It is not all about people dying. The plague may symbolize something else, a social condition, or a series of events that is changing people’s lives. Maybe it is just a plague and he means it in a literal sense. In any case, Camus adds more than a regular author does to his novels. In the Stranger as well as in the Plague he shows his views on society through his characters and descriptions of events.