Is Deofe's A Journal of the Plague Year Fact or Fiction?

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Nowadays, infectious diseases have become a major source of mortality and one of the greatest concerns for the society as whole. Equally this was the case during the mid-seventeenth century, when an unexpected plague returned again in Holland. Published in 1722 by Daniel Deofe, the novel was a first-person narrative told by the fictional character of H.F. recalling his experience and events from the plague. It is interesting to know how the author intended the historical novel as a warning to guide and comfort, especially the poor.Classifying the journal as fact or fiction was an issue since its publication being that it involved a fictitious account of a real event. With this idea in mind, I will argue that this detailed tale is a mixture of both fact and fiction.
The journal began in the second half of 1664, when the narrator with initials H.F. started to spread the rumors that the plague threatened to return to Holland once again. This report did not spread instantly due to the limited resources. Everyone was doubtful about its origins but the reality was that concerns raised as the news spread. To clarify how violent the disease was, the narrator used bills of mortality to prove his point. An example was the deseace of two Frenchmen. People believed that the evil has gone being that there was not news about the plague for several weeks. To make the situation even worse, the sickness destroyed two more men in the same manner.
In addition, the plague was so severe that the people had no control over it, leaving them no choice than to leave the city. Pain and sadness were seen at everyone's faces. This served to show how they are confused and desperate. As a result, the city was isolated. The narrator mentioned how t...

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... never appeared" or the appearance of "the angel clothed in white, with a fiery sword in his hands." These fantasies do not only serve to add suspense and tension but also to test whether or not they had overcome with delusions. We may say that Defoe has experienced the plague, but it is clear to say that the journal does not belong to him since he was at the age of five when the infectious disease happened.
Overall, it is not true about the notion that all novels are fictionalized. Defoe was presented as an eyewitness, in which his invention was to use statistics to relate a story of immense tragedy and suffering. Regardless the text reads as fact or novel, indeed it is a historical novel that mingles both history and fiction. But most importantly is Defoe's intention to reunite with H.F. to collect these journals so we know the great plague as we know today.

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