Albert Camus : The Plague(1947)
 |
| Humanity Human Self-Centeredness is opposite to all the aspects of human values, somewhere partial, other than this obsessed in. "Kantianism has positive elements, regarding human self-centeredness". |
Seeing the first aspect of self-centeredness Vs self-sacrifice with reference to Albert Camus' "The plague(1947)" along with some of the summarised and critical videos based on the same theme.
These two factors are also experience based. Not every people is containing this quality from the beginning, it is the situation, circumstances and some hiddenly working factors, which are contributing in building a charcter as such.
HUMANITY comprises many traits, though humanity is a value. But it is difficult to say about the human and the values, which he / she is implementing, that differs from person to person. Somewhere it happens, what one likes is disliked by other, what is important for one, is insignificant for another or seen in different connotation. So it might be possible that the two's views can't meet at one juncture but is diversified from juncture to juncture.
In respective novel the very concept of humanity is seen in bluring state at first there is a description that everyone is behind making money and have become bored of their carefree life, and eventually countered with la peste / plague.
We see diversification; in Oran people's status, those are helpless, overanxious, insecure, uncertain, careless, possessing blind faith over religion and are overconfident.
As human's traits and behaviourical manner differ, they also differ from their social constructed strata and the consequences, which are result of privileged and underprivilege like concepts. As who comes under privilege can get what they will, while the other strata people are evaded from such fecilitation and so it happens that "Rich becomes more richer and poor becomes more poorer". Which actually adds in or reduce the human sufferings and so as a result we see, humanity suffers in various ways.
As is the case in Albert Camus "The Plague" which is set in Oran, a port in Algeria(a coast), that is actually a slum like place, where being a "good business man" is an ideal thing and all are to and fro to acquire such status. Amidst this hustle and bustle of life, we see "two centralised and contradictory personalities; Dr. Bernard Rieux and Father Paneloux, one is a doctor another is a priest.
Examining both the personalities in humanity kind of approach, though Father Paneloux isn't seeing any rat, but if basing this on probable assumption, as in the beginning of the novel a person was in hospital, seeing rat but getting unconcerned of it. While it is Dr. Bernard Rieux, who is noticing the portent situation and speculating for the surrounding happenings.
In their approaches both are humans, but one is sensible and another is possessing blind faith. Who perhaps won't be able to see the situation as Dr. Rieux is analyzing and trying to reflect accordingly. Father Paneloux may come to recognize the situation, perhaps when it is very late and taking action is in vain. Thus in lieu of faith(which isn't at all sanctioned by any religions) abandoning everything to the fate but not pondering of resolution mediated in middle, facilitating in curbing plague, spreading wildly.
For example: 'The Decameron', which is modeled upon 'canterbury tales' where we see the pilgrims in the month of April heading towards pilgrimaging, in hope that God will turn everything back into normalcy.
The latter persona believes that the plague is the result of unprecedented sins, which is being done by Oran's people, and in the form of plague, God has actually hurled on his people, his measured punishment and it will keep on spreading its vibes until and unless the sins aren't stopped and God isn't satiated.
If seeing this through God's context, then experimenting Science now and then is also a part of sins, as God doesn't want his disciples to be episteme(to know or understand) but to remain in doxa. If it is happening so then only he / she will be able to distract his disciples and lead them towards the path, approaching near to him. Which is actually the status of darkness, where if willing to come out, noone can as it is much dense.
The former is much aware of the situation as he has read a series of historical plagues, happened in Europe, Italy, Germany, Africa etc and from his experience he was smelling forthcoming dire situation, as may be much devastating than at present. As when he had seen at first, a dead rat in landing spot in his hospital, he ignored the thing because his wife was ill and he had to shift her in "sanitorium". While some blamed youngsters, of committing such things for their own personal pleasure. Which was actually not the case and the number first multiplied in hundreds and gradually in batches and ultimately sprinkled on earthly innocent creatures.
When we see the struggle of Oranian poeple, for making money. One thing strikes in our mind that there might be the poeple suffering from poverty and when not able to gain anything, feeling boredom for living life and so there are many background problems of sanitization, food, economy, education, health etc. When among this an educated like personality called "Dr. Riuex comes, it is a miracle on the barren land of Oran.
Trying to establish utopia kind of ideal society, whose opposite is dystopia(as introduced by Thomas More, during 16th century in his respective book on the same name).
It is only this personality who is well aware of the situation and urging the respective authorities to take action, if not taken and further delayed, it would be difficult to find the whereabouts of very humanbeing and so wants to take precautions by believing in the famous saying..
"Precautions is better than cure".
Moving further and if seen in some characters, those actually want to reach their destination, but the present situation is leading them somewhere else. As Rambert wants to escape from Oran but isn't allowed to(as without health certificate, he won't be able to move for Paris) and so by understanding the present situation, he indulge himself in ongoing fight against plague or can say got inspiration from Dr. Rieux, whose wife is 100miles away in sanotarium but he is immersed in serving humanity with indomitable determination and says so that this very thing should be done ordinarily, with acuteness and discipline, it isn't the concept of heroism but is duty towards humanity. As nowadays reflected by 7G club, supportive hands to Ukranian people so that 'the president of Russia', "Vladimir Putin" understands now the time isn't to fight for land, but to come together in the name of humanity and the grave humanly problems can be resolved.
 |
| Tap on the above image for updated news on Ukraine-Russia. |
We see in many characters many different traits, who are self-centered, are inspired by the leading figure(Dr. Rieux). Father Paneloux himself is giving message of Mr. Michel, who is badly infected by plague, to Dr. Rieux, denotes as Sceince having an upperhand upon religion, while the very leading figure is such, who unexpectedly serves for humanity(which shows that if time demands, he won't feel hesitating, sacrificing his very self, in the name of humanity). On the other side Tarrou is equally helping Dr. Rieux but he isn't having the spirit of dealing with his patients as the doctor is having and It happens at last, besides trying to save him, he is ultimately getting dead, by welcoming the plague free Oran.
It can be literally seen that though the plague denotes absurdity to the very existence of humanbeing, it seems as it acts as a tool with each earthly creature to make them realise the very severity of situation some succumbs, while some like Dr. Rieux come out of it courageously, and some are transformed into a good humanbeing(as Rambert).
If merging the both prospects of Self-centeredness and Self-sacrifice, the new concept of "humanity" emerges, and it is this very plague like situation, which teaches humans to be a human. While it differs from person to person's perspectives.
It teaches to humans,
"What is life"(a sensible humanbeing: who is self-centered though sacrificed his ownself in the name of humanity, showing towards his own dearly people).
In absurdity, where the human's existence is questionable. As he / she is inflinged into he / she learns how when there is nothing, everything is uncertain, indefinite, where a human's own basic needs are scarce and depleting gradually, as he / she is unable to even get the food to make himself / herself survive, besides this one is also having responsibility of his / her family as he himself/ herself is unable to get, how others who are connected with him / her will survive, so here the very concept of self-sacrifice comes. Where one has to sacrifice oneself to make otherself survive and humanity pops up but this also happens luckily in epidemic like situation.
For Example: Santiago in 'The old man and the sea' by "Hemingway".
Where though Santiago trying to catch the fish called 'Marlin' and is trapped but abruptly, it is lost by him.
Although lost it, he had to succumbed to humanity, rather than emerging out of it.
So here an ample of questions arise in mind that " wasn't here God able to see the struggle of an old-man and rather than providing him his fruits of struggle, succumbed him to his(God's) choice's death"?
In this manner God serves humanity?
If God is saying(as a belief) "patience fruit is sweet" but here patience lead to nowhere..
How such things can be interpreted or seen..Assume that if it is needing any of the disciplinary approaches, then which? Myth can be mirrored here but it will limit just to a belief and will sing a rotten story.
Hence in discourse of humanity, considering both of the aspects; if on one side there is self-centeredness of 'Ahab', then there is also self-sacrificial nature of 'mobydick'. Both serve humanity. one has build his humanity on ego, stimulating it hurling himself towards committing crime. While on the other side is, though not seemingly self-sacrificial nature, but it is. As in 'the plague' Dr. Rieux is sensible towards life and can sense emerging situations, similarly 'mobydick' can't succumb his life, only for the sake of inferiority, which is seen only through Ahab's eyes. Defeating his al last with his supernatural power.
Science Vs Religion:Science and Religion, both are opposites of each other, in nature and also in tendency. As Ivory Armstrong Richards says : "One is based on verification and evidence another on blind faith, imagination(associating this with poetry)and closeness to its extremity, where everything is in hidden and layering up state, you can't see anything explicitly, while everything is ultimately in the hands of fate. That is to worship faithfully, and get the unknown reward, which can be either in positive or negative form. If in positive, it will be appreciated, and if in negative then also it will equally get appreciation but with different concept as something mysterioulsy lurking, which will uncover at the right time and the time never arrives and try to find its space in unknown valley, in aftermath death's consequences.
Science requires modification from time to time through a variety of ideas, invested by various Sceintists or the very idea's subvertion so another one is given space and thus it represents newness and flexibility as a prospect given by John Locke: Empiricism. While Religion is static, which spotted itself as myth, and requires people to follow, by fearing them of unknown fear, not having the elasticity but rigidity and so represents old like tendency, which is dark and gloomy with never ending density.
For example: Astronomy Vs Religion
There is uncertainty and absurdity everywhere, and in such absurdity people only need is to exist and for existence, one needs "a ray of hope" which can be gained from any of the prospects, either from Science or from Religion, depends on people's choice. But the thing is these things though in illusion aids people to enliven themselves.
Thus it is said by Albert Einstein in one of his quotes on (Science, Philosophy and Religion).
Binding both generates an extra-ordinary humanbeing.
The doctor in this novel, called Dr. Rieux representing the concept of Science, while the father, of Christianity. Both contrasting but it is seen in this novel that it is only the identity of religion, that goes to the doctor to insist him cure one of the plague infected patients(Mr. Michel). Ultimately the novel is only highlighting the aforementioned character/narrator coming out of this epidemic victoriously. Which shows ...
"Science overpowers religion".
If we see the same concept in present times pandemic(Covid19) situation, It was happened in India that the Tablighees(residents of Delhi Markaz masjid{Nizamuddin}), who are said to be representing the muslim religion. Those were claimed as spreading the virus rather than helping controlling it and so these are the only responsible persons in India, who are involved in multiplying the figures of Covid19 cases and their spot is claimed to be a hotspot for such disease.
If we see this thing as an outsider, reacting as a defender as well as oppressor. It seems to be at first that these are swayed and obsessed under the very concept of religion, find ray of hope only in almighty, concerning Sceince merely as a facilitation. This is their carelessness that they didn't care for themselves and unknowingly tried to harm other innocent humanbeings. But when eventually the whole matter was made public, gradually the picture was seen clearly.
They told in defense that they had made early precautions by requesting SHO to arrange vehicle for them so they can shift to their residential places, but those requests of aiding were ignored. As this religious congregation was always taking place in a year not only in India but all over the world, they were well aware of its happenings and from other part of the country, where already congregation was going on, the engaged team was supported as per their demands.
While as an oppresser we see the very concept, it seems that the very government system, which is based on majoritarian aspect,wants others, who are in minority(particularly muslims) to melt into one pot. Which can't be made happen without the other party's willingness. If one is following and is happy in what he / she is doing, then why one should prevent another. Yes if it harms then one has right to stop another otherwise not.
It is seen clearly that Sceince always is having an upperhand on religion. Because Religion can only teach the lesson of insensible faith, which people keep on practicing in the name of hope. Which is actually a wrong thing. Each and every religion has taught its values, morals and disciplines but we humans are with such tendency that we're becoming over-obsessed and unknowingly harming the innocent beings.
Power Politics(Nazism of 1940s Vs 2020 Epidemics):Oran itself has experienced a handful of plagues, subsequently in 1556, 1674, 1921, 1931 and 1944 of which the concerned writer is well aware. But this time the occupation of Nazism is somewhat disturbing for French people and its allegorical identity.
Nazis represents pestilent rats, who are getting dead as time furthers, first one then multiplying in batches and are actually responsible for spreading virus. As the goverment is the ideology of dominancy, it breaks relations with other countries and is trapped within its network. So perhaps the plague is taking time to vanish and people of this particular town is equally suffering to establish their well-being, unconcerned about the class strata, all are sailing in similar boat. It seems in this novel, that goverment is nowhere but only the volunteers like Dr. BERNARD RIEUX.
While if the same thing is seen in India's context, it is the democratic country and so at some juncture it happens that help is supplied from one country to another and with transperancy of social media can be seen, and it is equally utilized by the well aware people to seek help and justice and to draw government's attention towards needy and injustice people.
So here trapping system can't be seen, but everything is observed in an open and out state, where if anything comes into notice, is directed to government's recognition and thus on equal level goverment also can't do anything unfair with his people, though it happens somewhere but not everytime because now the poeple has become smart in some manner, with the facilitation of Science & Technology and are succeeded in building the aura of collaboration with bilateral and trilateral relationships on international level. Which we can see through the help given by PM Narendra Modi to America's PM Trump by supplying "hydrochloroquine". While the accusers, who were claimed once as responsible for spreading Coronavirus, gave help by donating plazma, to those who were in need and some "rapid testing kits" were brought from China to check coronavirus status in respective patients, the result can be processed within 15minutes only, though wasn't succeeded to do so.
As it is still the beginning noone may knew what is going to happen next. At present each and every patients is given due care and importance concerning their health but somewhere where poeple are unaware of, are ignored or evaded and left out as inexisting creature on Earth, whose life has no value at all and noone cares about his / her, where many are dying, what difference an addition of another handful makes...
Thus the Nazism as dominating goverment system, while the 2020s democratic government system. The former goverment was incapable of, so in times of crises people like Dr. BERNARD RIEUX, TORRAU etc had to come forward, to look after the well-being of people. In the latter these all can be seen through government's lens, as it has extended a helping hand towards its dear public. But for this also public has to facilitate with social media, by sharing their views, otherwise injustice and unfairity is ready to expand its space, in unknown form. In Oran only a glimpse of radio is given as broadcasting the news, via which poeple are informed of day to day death toll status. So here we can conclude that present times people are benefitted with social media and so those are given systematic treatment and quarantine wards to stay in, while in 1940s plague, stadium was selected as a quarantine room to huddle the people altogether,those who were infected with plague. If seen in today's scenario poeple are also supportive towards government, while in this novel anything as such isn't seen or touched upon. While noone can say what is going to happen next even in India, because uncertainty is prevailing everywhere. What is cured, regenerated again in the form of disease as we already have an example of 4-5 plagues,occured on the same land.
This narrative as an archetype of Epidemic Literature: Though in fictive manner, this novel is represented by Albert Camus, which is out of time and space.
As it is said "literature is the mirror of society, itself a reflected society, which records in itself the happenings of the world or concerned country.
people's struggles, inabilities, weaknesses, resulting frustration and boredom, ultimate darkness and death".
Archetypal motifs for narration can be seen through different narrators' perpectives as point of views differs from person to person. What has value for Dr. Rieux, isn't valued by Tarrau his helper.
For example
A narration through Dr. Rieux perspective.
Being a good human, keen observer, dutiful, showing common decency towards his work, and by believing in medical Science, he initiates journey of life. He believes that one should be faithful to one, what he / she is committed, then there shouldn't be any room for family excuse or anything. It isn't that he doesn't love his wife, he does. But can't be unfair towards the work. Which is actually a responsibilty of entire humans on Earth and he does faithfully his duty, from starting to ending with true dedication and eventually come out of it victoriously.
If we see this narrative as an archetype of epidemic literature, It has many incidents to look into, how the plague disease is getting spread, and how the plot of the novel is gradually developing, from one dead rat to hundreds and ultimately batches of dead rats and an eventual infection on innocent humanbeings.
How the incident of dead rat is interpreted by a variety of people as per their understanding, some says it is done by mischievious youngsters, some says something different, while on other level some are keeping close watch on surrounding happenings.
In this novel also we can put forward the background (can be seen as archetype)of the novel and its resultant plague as a philosophical aspect from God. On the other side there're many characters, who represent a variety of traits; some has learnt to live life, by keeping on smiling in absurd like situations, some has learnt the adjustment in such situaions, some short tempered people, unable to keep patience, have further tried to deteriorate the situation, some have just silently in despair succumbed to death, some have tried hard to escape death but fated to it, shows helplessness towards situation.
Many volunteers comprising Dr. Bernard Rieux(a leader)Tarrau, Kotard(who is getting transform in company of Dr. Reiux), Joseph Grand(who was unable to write a love letter to his wife, but this plague inspired him to write) and many others as such.
Ultimately how the plague has bid off and the people have again started living their normal life but still the fear of infecting(absurd effect)is instilled in human minds as well as on Dr. Reiux's mind.
By interweaving each and every incidents, and by merging it can be represented in nice manner with measured and foreseen impact.
Conclusion
Hence concluding the writing, we see if it is Science or Religion,Humanity: Self-Centeredness or self-sacrifice, 1940s Nazism or 2020s Epidemics and ultimately seeing epidemic as an archetypal literature for present. It seems as each and everything has interdependancy on each other, though those are opposite elements, only in absence of one, the presence of another thing is recognised and so we're having concepts like appreciation and depreciation.
It is upto the writer how he / she is seeing the particular situation, the literature is all about conflict, without conflict a thing / a person will become alone, and in lonesomeness, noone can survive leisurely, yes solitude is a different thing , while this is also a different thing, and contradiction has its own importance in society as well as in creating literature.
Thankyou
S. Y. Kagdi
Works Cited
- Barad D., "The plague-Albert Camus", DilipBarad's blog, Dilip Barad.blogspot.com, 5May, 2020.
- Wikipedia:Summary:Albert Camus-The Plague.
- ParadiseLost- Empson, William., "Paradise lost: Interpretations andCritics". https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost
- John Locke: "Empericism".
- I.A.Richards: "Poetry Vs Science".
- Times of India: "Currents affairs".
No comments:
Post a Comment