Death and Hope in Oran

Albert Camus’s The Plague is one of the great works of literature of the twentieth century. It is a well-crafted novel with a universal message, applicable across time and cultures. The plot centers on an outbreak of plague in Oran, a coastal town in Algeria, and chronicles the manner in which the lives of the town’s citizenry are changed as a result, as well as the varying reactions of certain characters to the plague. Written during the time of the Nazi occupation of France, Camus employs the outbreak of plague and the resulting quarantine of the town as metaphorical representations of the Nazis and the suffering of the French people under the occupation. Besides the salience of its themes, the book is noteworthy for the fact that it marks an evolution in the thought of Camus from a form of existentialist nihilism (as seen in The Stranger) to a philosophy which recognizes certain values and ethics, leading to a more humanistic view of the world. As such, the most important value upheld in the novel is the need to struggle against evil, as represented by the plague. Thus, the book is to be commended for its political message. Additionally, Camus’s character development and description of the feelings of loneliness and separation experienced by the townsfolk also contribute toward making this a great work, whose words and themes connect directly with the human experience and force the reader to reflect on the essential aspects of his existence.