Prelude
I remember those days where Military Personnel were engaged to prevent any communal riots around the city. The infamous Babri Masjid episode and the communal riots brought in lots of tension in the city. Sporadic report of riots was reported at near coastal regions. Seems, I have chosen an apt moment to read "The Plague" by Albert Camus.
I have already read "The Myth of Sisyphus" but alas, the theme / message - still remained as enigma and hence I picked this one with a prejudiced mind. Did some homework regarding the bubonic plague, socio - political situation prevailed in Europe during 192-1950.
Each page left me with numerous images and situations prevailing across the globe. I feel like reading a prophetic master piece that transcends the barriers of time and space. Here is an account of my take on Plague.
Theme
Thousands of rats came out the fissures and let them died on the port city of Oran. They are found dead everywhere - on streets, houses etc.
Time to rejoice as the ugly creatures is dying? Or is it an early warning symptom?
Just like media celebrated hanging Saddam Hussain! TRP of channels increased as many of us wanted to see the show. Above that, does that suggest something more?
Coming back to the story - It was Dr. Rieux(narrator of the novel) who recognised the imminent mishaps and suggested steps to be taken to curb the epidemic. As usual, to convince majority who did not suffer from the direct hit is a task next to impossible. The lukewarm response with the flavor of optimism results in increase of death toll.
What happens next? Special ward in hospital, quarantine, burial of corpses under strict supervision and finally the port is closed! So, the reactive approach to the early warning symptom results in mishap.
From here onwards the novel focuses on the response of certain characters towards the situation. The characters represents - the one who want to escape, the one who want to fight, the one who wanted to take advantage of the situation ---- Survivors, Opportunists, Sufferers ---- Camus is the master genius who pick up limited characters to represent the multitude of emotions!
Raymond Rambert want to get out the city to join his heart throb in Paris but the movement is restricted due to quarantine. So what? There are smugglers who started the business of smuggling you outside the city! Cottardearned good fortune out of this smuggling business! Finally Rambert opt not to leave the city in trouble.
The Jesuit Priest Father Panelouxrepresents the vested interests of the church and an opportunist whose sermons conveyed the following message "This is God's reaction towards sinners. So, follow the Church". If we were to believe him, then the priest himself would have been the real sinner as he dies out of plague!
We have Jean Tarrouwho was a vacationer to the city who represents the “sane human being” volunteering to help the patients. Finally he sacrifices his life. He along with Rambert and Dr. Rieuxrepresents the fighters of the novel who are engaged in helping out the victims and spreading message of positivity.
As the epidemic was gaining strength and death toll raises - solidarity among the people undergone a positive revival. They started helping each other. Collective security is where everyone found solace.
Finally - when the city was declared to be "plague free", it gave way to celebration! But in reality, they were able to subdue the evil and not eliminate the same. People wanted to believe that they won but plague might come back to any happy city by letting some rats dying on their streets. (The concluding lines of the novel bearing this idea was popularised a lot when Plague struck Surat)
Related thoughts
This novel rants the ultimate truth that existence is an ongoing struggle against an ultimately unnamable and unidentifiable foe. Who is this "foe"? Might be your inner self who always warns you or your complacency! The evil changes its faces but reincarnate as something or the other. Again we are left with variety of choices - to be a fighter or to be an escapist or to be an opportunist.
One school of critics suggests that - Camus was trying to represent the Nazi invasion of France and plague was a symbol used for the same.
Quite possible! I can relate this with a number of events - to quote a few -
a) The communal riots happened after Babri Masjid incident
b) Mumbai Attack (Dont want to quote the dates as we witnessed many)
c) At times, we can see rats dying in tolls in the happy space of MS also (Fun intended)
For me - this is classic piece of literature. Something which transcends the barriers of time, space, geography - whatever!
Symbolic representation is something that was pioneered by Joyce, Camus, Kafka, Sartre etc. In India, I have seen O V Vijayan did the same through Saga of Dharmapuri.Also, I have read a short story by O V Vijayan(Fetus) where in a Queen who delivers an immature fetus who sucks blood of general public. That was a direct slap on the dark days of emergency where in Sanjay Gandhi was given freedom to triumph. There were a few intellectuals around to comprehend the meaning and hence Vijayan survived emergency.
I guarantee – you won’t regret for the time and money spent on this book. Really worth!

- Thank You! We appreciate your effort.