The Plague - Part 2 ~ Part 5 (66~309) Finish

Part 2

Quarantine life is only the beginning of Oran's vicious cycle into an isolation madness. People are freaking out, feeling anxiety towards being left alone, and as Dr. Rieux unwillingly diagnoses more patients of plague, people are in fear of being alienated. Only Cottard seemed to enjoy the plague, as he is reassured that the police, who were busy arresting escapees will not target him for a while. However, Rambert is in desperate need of escaping, so he gangs up with Cottard's fellow post-inmates to discuss their plans, which failed unsuccessfully. Out of the midst, pastor father Paneloux decides to hold a sermon in which he accused the people of Oran as the reason for the plague, so therefore they should be grateful as to receive such a gift from god. While Grand, reveals to his fellow friends about his marital struggles and his hopes of sending a letter to his divorced wife about his mistakes. Around this time, Tarrou decides to invite Grandand Rieux to propose a plan, to create sanitary squads constructed from ordinary citizens, to help the health workers. Rieux and Grand agree, and with persuading Rambert that Rieux's wife is also in a sanitorium far away, he decides to join.

Part 3 

The narrator describes the transitioning of Oran into an exile prison. People have become lunatic, as some burned their houses to get rid of the plague. Others, desperate to escape, flew across the gates, only to get ambushed by guards. There is more violence, which leads to people forgetting about their loved ones. The burial system worsens as well. Before, there were enough coffins and graves for the citizens, but as the death toll rises, the government is forced to run out of supply, so for Rieux's hospital, they would have to reuse 4 coffins for all corpses. Moreover, the corpses can't claim their private spot, so instead, they are thrown like garbage into a pit with others, in order to save space. 

Part 4 

Dr. Castel with his completed anti-plague serum is tested on M. Othon's son, but with no effect. Instead, he dies, shrieking with pain, as Rieux and Penloux watch him. Paneloux cries to god for help, but also, with no effect, so Rieux confronts him to argue about religion and its divine punishment. After that, Paneloux seeks to change, as he ponders on whether a Christian devoted to God should be diagnosed by a doctor. Sadly, he succumbs to some kind of disease, but due to his Christian morals, he refuses to visit, dying, not knowing what he contracted. Rambert and Tarrou visit the concentration camp of plague parents, and sees M Othon, asking about his son in which Tarrou untruthfully stated that he died with tranquility. While swimming in the beach, Tarrou discusses to Rieux about his past as an activist against executions, and his hatred towards murder, as he claims that he has the plague within him. M. Othon joins the anti-sanitary squad, and retreats to his isolation camp to volunteer, despite being eligible to go home. As more patients seem to recover with the serum, Grand has his letter reviewed which only consisted of one sentence, but showed his hard dedication. Rieux realizes, that the plague deaths have been decreasing. 

Part 5

The Perfect announces that the gates will be open,  and loved ones are being reunited like Rambert and his wife. However, Tarrou falls il to the plague and struggles quietly as Rieux says his last farewells to him being the last patient of the plague. Cottard is mad that the plague has ended, as he goes on a shooting rampage from his apartment. As Rieux and Grand see Cottard being prosecuted by the police, Rieux reflects on the plague being just the beginning, and that the plague will always hide in people's doormats, waiting for the time to strike innocent lives again.

Compared to "The Outsider", this book was intriguing to read as it followed a clear chronicle. I especially enjoyed the writing structure, as the 3rd narration created a more open and dimensional world of Oran, as its diverse thoughts and philosophy encouraged me to think outside the box. As of quarantine, there were many similarities within the people of Oran and the people in lock-down. For example, the insufficiency in coffins reflected in a few countries, as an abundance of victims had to hold temporary burials outside, and because the factories weren't running, there became a scarce supply of coffins. It also brushed on several other topics other than alienation. Paneloux symbolized religion and their contradicting beliefs against reality, and the consequences or morals of devoting to such doctrine. There was also a big theme of natural selection, about the unfairness of death. Oran didn't commit any crime to delineate the reason for the plague occurring, but it was life that chose this particular town. Although for Covid-19, it was an infection from a wild animal that became the main cause, it made me reflect on other case scenarios where Japan may have been the first country to contract such disease. Perhaps there may have been more deaths with stricter regulations in quarantine. Since Albert Camus believed in philosophical thoughts, the book was overall structured in a deep manner, with analogies to present events. When I wrote the essay, there were several relations connecting the Nazi invasion to the events in the book. From those perspectives, I can understand just how stressing an unprecedented event would have burdened the French's mental health.  With all that said, I truly recommend this book, as it focuses on the plague not only being a scientific pestilence, but also an inner ticking bomb that could ignite at any moment.