By Dr. Sheri Abel, Modern & Classical Languages
In his first cycle of work, Camus laid forth his philosophy of the Absurd. The notion of the Absurd refers to the conflict between the human desire for meaning in life and the human inability to find any in a universe that is purposeless, meaningless, irrational, and silent (for a fuller explanation of his philosophy, see his essay, The Myth of Sisyphus.
The Plague is part of Camus’s second cycle of work that deals with the notion of Revolt. According to Camus, in this irrational and incomprehensible universe, the only meaningful thing to do is to rebel, to revolt against death, suffering, injustice, absence of meaning, etc... and to accept the absurdity that one’s constant struggle is useless. There is the moral necessity to be engagé, an active commitment no matter the consequences. One must take responsibility and act. Passivity, denial, and escapism are coward acts of surrender. Ignorance is the worst vice.
Though each individual is responsible for their own actions, for Camus, human solidarity is key in the revolt. The alienation and isolation that come from living in an absurd world can be diminished by a collective resistance.
Despite this cold and silent universe that offers no meaning to our lives, Camus believed that humans were capable of good deeds. As The Plague will show, Camus valued compassion, courage, love, friendship, and authenticity.
As you read the novel, notice how Camus’s ideas about absurdity and revolt are interwoven throughout the plot, the lives of the main characters, the lives of the inhabitants and the various descriptions in the text.
Some questions to ponder:
- Keep track of the themes associated with Camus’s philosophical ideas – absurdity, exile, isolation, suffering, injustice, active commitment, revolt, solidarity, compassion…Are they connected? If so, how? Is there a theme or several themes that stand out to you? How and why might they draw you in?
- What is your response as you read through the lens of faith? What biblical themes come through? Though Camus was an atheist, where do you see the truth that human beings are created in the image of God? What other truths align with a Christian perspective?
- The universe that Camus created for his characters is a closed universe, a universe without God. However, do you notice any redemptive moments in the story? Are there any signs of hope? Where does Camus’s hope, no matter how small it might be, come from? Is his hope similar and/or different from your Christian hope?
- Do you feel that there is a discrepancy, a dissonance in Camus’s philosophical perspective? How so? What questions do you have for Camus?