Summary:
Discusses Albert Camus' novel, The plague. Analyzes the character of Tarrou. Describes how the character reveals that he is a humanist.
The enigmatic Tarrou, a visitor in the mist, he was; "had a habit of observing events and people through the wrong end of the telescope."(Camus p.24) Being that he wasn't from Oran he clearly comes off as opinionated, in which, he forms a sort of diary with an intriguing fascination to the daily life of Oran and its citizens.
Unlike Tarrou, the people of Oran were merely creatures of habit, with no imagination or ambitions to relish on life, other than for "doing business." "The passions of the young are violent and short-lived; the vices of older men seldom range beyond an addiction to bowling, to banquets and "socials," or clubs where large sums change hands on the fall of a card."(Camus p.4) Tarrou all the while seems to revel in revealing the towns' ugliness, and is yet personally disturbed by the citizens' negligence not to savor in the moments of life. "Query: How contrive not to waste one's time? Answer: By being fully aware of it all the while." (Camus p.26)
Tarrous' fascination for watching the towns' episodes of eccentricity is excogitated that all the excitement of the dead rats is nothing to worry about. His natural optimistic persona wouldn't allow him to entertain the thought that trouble was on its way when the night watchman suggested that all the dead rats meant trouble. He simply replied, "the only thing I'm interested in,' I told him, 'is acquiring peace of mind.'"(Camus p.27)
The idiopathic plague eventually demonstrates its dreadful existence and proves to be a prognosis for evil. However, the egocentric citizens refuse accept the deleterious effects of the plague, believing that it will merely pass; in which, ironically they are the first to cease to exist.
As the plague sets in and worsens, life in Oran abruptly changes; "it needed several days for us to realize that we were completely cornered; that words like "special arrangements," "favor," and "priority" had lost all effective meaning." (Camus p.68) The feelings of exile were experienced by all. The citizens at first longed for the lost feelings of humanity but the unconscionable epidemic would terminate their enthusiasm for "doing business." No knowing what do with themselves the citizen of Oran began to panic and become apprehensive of others as they believe that they too would be exposed to the plague.
"It's a topsy-turvy world all right, more doctors than patients. Because it's moving them down, ain't it, more and more. The priest's right; we were asking for it." (Camus p.117) It is here that Tarrou realize that the citizens of Oran were no longer followers to there god that "nobody laughs,.".."except the drunks, and they laugh too much", as "these people realized their peril, they gave their thought to pleasure."
"I loathe men's being condemned to death."(Camus p.125) Tarrou can not accept the authority's inadequacy to remedy the ever so fatal plague. He believes that it is everyone duty to do whatever is possible in preserving life. His willingness to help is at first questioned but makes it clear that his moral codes are of "comprehension." The once ever so mysterious Tarrou reveals that he is a humanist as he organizes a group of volunteers to fight the plague.
This is the complete article, containing 536 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
