How Does Camus Change In The Plague

Albert Camus wrote The Plague using several literary devices to further the novel. It is often said that an author inserts their own character traits and beliefs into the characters of their novels. Camus is no different in this aspect, especially when it comes to his protagonist Dr. Rieux. The event of the plague which is the main focus of the novel is a catalyst that shapes and changes the characters, some for the better and others for the worse. With the rest of this essay Dr. Rieux, Cottard, Father Paneloux and Tarrou will be broken down and analyzed. By doing so we will be able to see how each character reflects the author Albert Camus, how the plague has changed them, and how they have effected each other throughout the course of the …show more content…
Cottard towards the beginning of the novel tried to kill himself but was unsuccessful in his attempt. Before the plague Cottard was seen as quiet and secretive. Once the plague has taken hold of the town, it is almost like he is born again with a fresh new start the plague cleansing him of his fears. With everyone else now in a state of panic and fear with the plague afoot, Cottard is normal. He even thrives because he is so use to this feeling of fear. His character does a complete turn around and he becomes trustworthy and friendly. Cottard also takes advantage of the plague as well selling contraband and making a pretty penny off of it. When the plague ends Cottard is probably the only one in the town who is sad about this occurring because he thinks he will go to jail and reverts back to his old ways. Becoming fearful, quiet, and mistrusting leads to a complete breakdown of his mental state and this time succeeds in getting himself put in jail. Camus seems to use the character of Cottard to show the darkness of man. A normal person in the situation of the plague would either be fearful or set aside that fear and try to help people like Dr Rieux. With Cottard we see a man thriving and relishing in this horrible atrocity. With his death it shows that Camus has a sense of justice, the man who would take advantage of people during a time of horror and tragedy meets his end going to jail and the …show more content…
He uses his novel to tell a story not really about a plague, which could be seen as an act of nature or God, but truthfully about the men within the town who are the real disease. The plague may be killing people but it did not really change the characters, it simply brings out sides of them that were always there. With Dr. Rieux and Tarrou we see the good in man and how science is the tool of a just man. On the other hand we see with Father Paneloux that he is somewhat power consuming with his new found control over the townspeople and his tool is religion, the tool of an ignorant man. Lastly we see with Cottard the darkness in every man’s heart, that good well educated men like Dr Reiux and Tarrou do not give into, but instead fight this