An Absurd Situation in an African Town of Oran in Albert Camus' Novel, The Plague

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When people are faced with tough situations they tend to lose control of their emotions, and let their emotions control their actions. It is in these situations, that people must control their emotions the most so that they can focus on solving the problem. The absurd situation in the small, African town of Oran is an unstoppable plague that strikes the town causing many to die at the hand of nature’s most merciless creation. Albert Camus, in his novel The Plague, demonstrates that life is absurd and meaningless through the random deaths of the towns people and the seemingly unstoppable plague. Doctor Bernard Rieux, in Camus’ novel realizes that the situation is absurd, but he continues to do what needs to be done. Rieux’s job as a doctor is to care for the plague-stricken victims and help relieve their suffering, but no matter what he does, his patients end up dying. To combat his emotions, Rieux embraces an apathetic attitude towards the absurd situation to continue his duty as a doctor. Characteristics such as these define Rieux as the absurd hero. The concept of the absurd hero is used to develop Doctor Rieux in Albert Camus’ The Plague, as he struggles to continue doing what needs to be done while facing the absurdity of his situation.

Rieux’s ability to combat his emotions to do what needs to be done defines him as the absurd hero; he is conscious of the absurdity of his predicament, yet “he continues to perform his duty no matter how useless or how insignificant his action” (Lane). Absurdity can be defined as “life, devoid of God and constantly faced with evil forces, with no ultimate rational meaning” (Sollars). Absurdity is evident throughout the novel as the small town of Oran is infected by a plague. Camus demonstrat...

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...low Doctor Rieux to be apathetic towards the people’s suffering. With his emotions controlled, Rieux can continue to do what needs to be done in the absurd circumstances.

The concept of the absurd hero is used to develop Rieux as a character as he struggles in doing what needs to be done during the absurd circumstances. To counter this struggle, Rieux becomes apathetic so his mind does not focus on his emotions, but on the task required of him. As Rieux develops an apathetic attitude toward the plague, he dissociates himself in order to relieve himself from the suffering he witnesses everyday. Albert Camus develops Rieux as this hero of the absurd with the situations he faces. These absurd situations in reality cause many people to become stressed and emotional because they panic. The realization that life is absurd can bring people freedom from worry and emotion.

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