Existentialism and Albert Camus The Plague Essay

Existentialism and The Plague In the mid 1940s, a man by the name of Albert Camus began to write a story. This story he called La Pestà ©. Written in French, the novel became extremely popular and has since been translated numerous times into many languages. This story has been read over and over, yet it tells more than it seems to. This story tells the tale of a city gripped by a deadly disease. This is true enough, but this is not what the novel is about. The Plague can be read as an allegory of World War II, of the French Resistance against German Occupation. To simplify things, one can say that The Plague is an allegorical novel (Picon 146). This however, is indeed an oversimplification, and so this only tells part of the†¦show more content†¦For Camus, on the other hand, a mans acts could reveal an intrinsic integrity or dignity which were always there but which had laid dormant and unasserted until he was made to face the absurdity of his mortal condition in an immortal universe (Masters 107). Key to understanding this is that the integrity is unasserted. Camus believed that man was more than just a shell to begin with, that there is some basic worth to a man. Within each man Camus believed that there is a spark of goodness which only he himself could fan into a flame. While man may have innate goodness, what Camus saw in the world more often was indifference, inaction. Mankind failed to act on this goodness. Camus addresses this indifference in The Plague. Camus wrote this novel during a tumultuous time in history, World War II. Even before the war had begun, Camus saw this indifference. Camus watched as the nations of Western Europe sat idly by as Hitlers Germany seized lands, building his Reich. These lands believed they could ignore the problems Hitler was causing; they believed they could appease Hitler and leave it at that. Suddenly, France had fallen under German control and England was at the mercy of German bombers. These events helped to prompt Camus into writing The Plague. The war which Camus witnessed was transformed into the guise of a deadly disease. However, Camus does not merely attack the events of one war, norShow MoreRelated Existentialism in Albert Camus The Plague and Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot945 Words   |  4 Pages All of the characters in The Plague and Waiting For Godot exist in their fictional worlds. However, none is able to explain why. Neither work gives the reader an explanation of human existence except to say that humans exist. Providing an answer to the question of existence would constitute a paradox. To an existentialist, if you answer the question, then youve missed the whole point. Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience inRead MoreExistentialism And The Absurd By Albert Camus1186 Words   |  5 Pagesstories, and plays, the French-Algerian writer Albert Camus relates to his philosophical beliefs: specifically existentialism and the absurd, as well as his connecting idea of rebellion. Camus’ most prominent works – such as the novels The Plague, The Stranger, The Rebel, and others – reflect these beliefs and ideas he held. Though he was and continues to be considered as one, Camus made a point of rejecting the label of an existentialist. Existentialism is essentially based on the idea that philosophyRead MoreAlbert Camus and His Views on Existentialism Essay1010 Words   |  5 PagesAlbert Camus is considered one of the greatest existentialist writers of all time. However, although he was considered an existentialist writer, Camus never labeled himself as an existentialist. â€Å"No, I am not an existentialist†   (Albert Camus: Lyrical and Critical Essays, Vintage (1970)) Camus rejected in an 1945 interview, however in some of his literary works, some find that his writings are one of a true existentialistic thinker. Although many contrast these thoughts and believe that Camus wasRead MoreAlbert Camus-the Outsider1194 Words   |  5 PagesO’Brien. First published in French as L’Etranger in 1942, Albert Camus’ The Outsider addresses the constrictive nature of society and what happens when an individual tries to break free from the conformity forced upon him by staying true to himself, and following his own ideal of absolute truth and sincerity in every action. Propelled more by the philosophy of existentialism and the notion of the absurd than plot and characters, Camus’ novel raises many questions about life, and answers themRead MoreWith Age, We Question Our Lives836 Words   |  3 Pageslife even more confusing. Many readers would find Camus difficult to understand especially his philosophy. Camus rejected himself as a philosopher and did not want to be grouped with existentialists such as Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, or Kafka (Payne, 1992). However, many experts say that his philosophy is a mixture of existentialist and humanism. Most of his works revolved around the philosophy of existentialism, absurdism and humanism. Camus may reject that he is a philosopher but his works haveRead MoreAlbert Camus and Bohemian Rhapsody Comparison1695 Words   |  7 Pagesthe writings of â€Å"Queen† and Albert Camus Albert Camus was one of the most renowned authors during the early twentieth century. With writings such as The Stranger, and The Plague, Camus has struck the world of literature with amazing works that are analyzed to a great extent. This amazing success was not just handed to Camus on a silver platter however; Albert endured many hard times and was often encumbered with great illness in his short life. These hardships that Camus had to face, emphasized inRead MoreThe Existential View Of Absurdity in Camus The Plague Essay1024 Words   |  5 Pagesevents that occur. Albert Camus, the accomplished author of many amazing books knew about this idea and understood the meaning, which in turn influenced many of his great novels. One of his excellent novels, â€Å"The Plague,† exhibits the ideas of absurdity in many aspects. One being the idea of an absurd hero, or someone who realizes that the world lacks order, yet through that spectacular revelation continues through their resp ected life. Camus develops the characters in â€Å"The Plague,† to represent theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Plague By Albert Camus1101 Words   |  5 PagesThe novel, The Plague, written by Albert Camus, will be the focal point of the Multicultural essay. Further delving into Albert Camus and his life, he was a French philosopher, author, and journalist. At a young age, he lost his father due to an injury suffered during World War I, and was raised under the domineering hand of his grandmother alongside his mother (Lottman 52). Camus did exemplary in school and through his political engagement led him to join the Communist Party. Deeply advocating forRead More Futility of Human Existence Exposed in The Guest by Albert Camus2321 Words   |  10 Pagesâ€Å"He who despairs of the human condition is a coward, but he who has hope for it is a fool† (Wyatt). As this quote by Albert Camus suggests, he was not a very optimistic writer. His gloomy look on life itself can be seen all too clearly in â€Å"The Guest†. The story itself deals with Camus’s idea of the futility of human existence: the only rational thing anyone can expect is death. Camus’s underlying philosophy is revealed from the very beginning of the story. The French title, â€Å"L’hote†, translatesRead MoreThe Plague By Albert Camus2232 Words   |  9 PagesNon-American Author Research: The Plague by Albert Camus The Plague by Albert Camus is a novel that forms themes around human suffering, greed, and religion. Although, most of the cultural points in this novel are based off of the authors own traditions and culture, the major things to focus on are the differences between history, culture, and religious beliefs between the novel and Oran, Algeria. In Camus’s story, the community of Oran is thrown into panic due to a plague spreading throughout the city