Theme.. continued

“Grand was the true embodiment of the quiet courage that inspired the sanitary groups. He had said yes without a moment’s hesitation and with the large-heartedness that was second nature to him” (135).  Like Rieux, Grand is another character in this novel that exhibits courage in the face of the adversity provided by the plague. Joseph Grand is an elderly gentleman that has been stuck in the same temporary position at the post office for twenty two years. He is complacent – not a man of action, never speaking up in regards to his boss’ exploitation of him. “All he desired was the prospect of a life suitably insured on the material side by honest work, enabling him to devote his leisure to his hobbies” (44). He is not a capitalist, something that distinguished him from the majority of the population of Oran. As seen described in the very beginning, and throughout the town’s battle with the plague, the citizens of Oran are inherently concerned with personal gain. This tendency of the town is so drastic that the narrator notes it is not a place for old people – for they will be left behind, unattended to by their families, as their families go off in pursuit of material gains. Despite the overwhelming majority of his peers’ behavior, Grand is never driven by a desire for material gains – he simply wishes to make enough to support himself. This attitude further highlights Grand’s complacency: he doesn’t care to take action even to benefit himself. He is neutral character is further defined by his trouble with language, seen in his inability to write his book. He is stuck on the first sentence; either because he is a perfectionist and is unable to move on until he finds it perfect or because he simply doesn’t have a firm grasp of the language in which he is writing. He is so reluctant to take action he cannot even finish a written sentence. All of these factors contributing to the total blandness of Grand’s character are why I found his bravery in the face of the plague so interesting; this form of action taking is almost out of character for him. He is actively standing up for what he thinks is right rather than letting external forces or people decide his fate for him; he volunteers himself to work in the sanitation squads. Granted, he is only helping with registry and statistics, but it is still an act to help the plague-fighting effort.  He even eventually goes one further in this newfound trend of taking action – doing much of his work in the actual hospitals alongside Reiux. When thanked for volunteering he replied: “Why, that’s not difficult! Plague is here and we’ve got to make a stand, that’s obvious. Ah, I only wish everything were as simple!” (134). Grand was a formerly neutral character, a man of little ambition or sustenance. However, when faced with the plague a change is seen in his character: he becomes more of a man of action, sacrificing his own time and possible health willingly in an effort to help fight the plague.