Camus The Plague: A Literary Analysis

Traditional values are defined as beliefs and moral codes that are passed down from generation to generation within a culture, subculture or community. When thinking of traditional values one thinks about religion, marriage, schooling, and overall the mores of a family. Fascism relies on these values and controls them in any way possible. The government controls every aspect of your life and of society. They impose strict regulations on businesses and on the family life. Many times denying women and minorities to be a part of public life. This is all seen as a way to take control. In both Camus’ The Plague and Lorca’s Blood Wedding we see the way fascism and traditional values have an influence on the novels.
The Plague starts of with the …show more content…
Families are separated, people begin to cling onto the little hope that is left. Before the plague people did not worry about their loved ones, they had faith in their religion and believed that all was well. Rambert, is a reporter who unfortunately visited the town just before the gates were closed. He is unable to leave town and “It is unfair to be kept in Oran, after all; he is not a citizen of it”. Rambert is “punished” just like everyone else although he is not a citizen of the city. This compares to how people were treated unfairly and were persecuted simply because their race, sexual preference, or religion within fascism and all were punished the same. Rambert says to Rieux "Then why don’t you stop my going? You could easily manage it." Rieux shook his head […]. It was none of his business, he said. Rambert had elected for happiness, and he, Rieux, had no argument to put up against him. Personally he felt incapable of deciding which was the right course and which the wrong in such a case as Rambert’s "Perhaps […] I, too, would like to do my bit for happiness.". This scene shows how Rieux is trying to help Rambert escape the city and Rieux is trying to do what he is unable to do it for his own wife. Rieux continues to distance himself from his wife he brings his mother “to keep house for her son during his wife’s absence.” little by little Rieux is removing himself from his role within the …show more content…
Before the plague people were used to their routine never breaking away from their habits, they were selfish and only cared about their suffering believing that they suffered more than the next person. Once the plague takes its toll on the city of Oran people begin to break those habits. The traditional values of society began to change, since the plague caused families to separate people feel the need to love their family members more and not take them for granted like they did before the plague. People also began to lose faith not believing in the church, but instead in each other. People began to sympathize with one another and found meaning in their life by standing together fleeing/fighting death and because of that they were able to defeat the