Thinking Activity task

                    
               

In the very toughest time of great Pandemic or epidemic CORONA ( COVID 19 ) affect people's mind as well as physically very largely in whole world. The superpower countries also suffers a lot from this epidemic. So, we have many questions in our mind that 

♧ How it spread in whole over the world ?

♧ when it will be finished ?

♧ Is there any vaccine or medicine for it ?

We haven't any perticular answers for these.

Doctors, Police officers, other social workers and government are blessing in this time because they all are played very vital role for people. They help a lot in this toughest time. We all know that experiences teaches us how to live life and how we can fight against any serious situation. In 1940, the Plague had spread in whole over the world and a lot of people had been died because of that. After few years later in 1947 Albert Camus wrote the great book " The Plague. " In this book he covered the situation of that time when the Plague had spread in the world and how it put the different effects on people's mind. 

Now a days CORONA is very similar disease to the Plague. It spreads in whole world like the Plague. Here first I would like to share some intresting chart about the cases of the Plague and COVID 19.

Chart about the cases of COVID 19

 Chart about the cases of the Plague 1940s

Albert Camus's " The Plague " is very popular in present time. So, let us see what the novel tells about and how Albert Camus gave the allegorical meaning of that. 

"What interests me is learning how to become a saint."

      " But you don't believe in God.".

  " Exactly ! Can one be a saint without God ? That's the problem, in fact the only problem, I am up against today."

The Plague is a novel by Algerian born French writer Albert Camus published in 1947 as La Peste. The work is an allegorical account of the determined fight against an epidemic in the town of Oran, Algeria by characters who embody human dignity and fraternity. It asks a number of questions about the nature of destiny and the human condition. Writes Camus, ' nothing more than a French Prefecture on the coast of Algeria. ' The inhabitants lead busy money centered denatured lives; they barely notice that they are alive. Dr. Rieux comes across a dead rat. Then another and another. 

Soon the town is overrun with the mysterious deaths of thousands of rats, who stumble out of their hiding places in a daze, let out a drop of blood from their noses and expire. The rats are removed and the town heaves a sigh of relief. Dr. Rieux suspects that this is not the end. He has read enough about the structure of Plague and transmission from animals to humans to know that something is afoot. Soon epidemic seizes Oran, the disease transmitting itself from citizen to citizen and spreading panic and horror in every street. Albert Camus wants to say that silent and absurdity are the invisible disease that may kill any of us at any time and destroy the lives we assumed were solid. 

Here are the two videos about short basic information of the novel and about the philosophical ideas of Camus.

 In this novel he tells about,

♧ Human self centeredness v/s human sacrifice :-

The novel throws light on the people who are selfish, only think about their own self, on the other side there are people who are living for helps other people. We can see in the present time there are Doctors, nurses, Police officers and other Social workers who plays vital role for saving the lives of other people and working throughout the day and night. Albert Camus says that we all are like Ostriches, doesn't take anything seriously. We all are only living for happiness and for earn money. Nothing at all. The result is that then we suffer alot from the epidemic. Then it can be out of control. In the present time only because of our irresponsible nature the disease COVID 19 is out of control. The cases are increasing day by day. Doctors and police officers gives their great contribution to the people and society.  In the novel also the Dr. Rieux is selflessness. He sacrifice his life for the people who were suffering from the Plague. Albert Camus says that absurdity and solidarity are the main reason. We all are living in the society with fear. Individuality is the choice of ours. In the novel also one man committed suicide. Albert Camus says that it was his personal choice and a private act. Ignorance is always blissful. 

♧ Science v/s Religion- the question of God and religion in times of epidemic and calamities :-

Science v/s religion is the debated point in  present time and in past time also. It is like two sides of one coine. There are many educated people who are thinking scientifically and try to find out the solution of any problem. On the other hand there are many people who thinks that this is the punishment for our sin by God. The ambiguity of Camus's characters creates this conflict as they face an array of emotional, moral, ethical, legel and religious challenges. Duty in its literal sense is, " something that you must do because it is morally right or because the law requires it." ( Merriam Webster)

Camus experience of Christian gave him a good knowledge of the doctrines of the faith and a great deal of respect for Christian he knew from his days during the occupation. Father Paneloux's sermon spreading the news that, " Calamity has come upon you, my brethren, and my brethren, you deserved it. " ( p. 80 ) A week of prayer had been organised for the city.

♧ " The Plague " novel as a Archetypal narrative :-

The Plague, Albert Camus often describes the city of Oran in negative term. He stresses the qualities or characteristics Oran lacks, seeing in this absence a source of inspiration. In Camus' universe the cities of North Africa, Oran and Alger, serves an essential function. They are not only the background for his work but they are the embodiment of man's relationship with his environment. The topos of Camus' world revolves around a desert - city dichotomy. Unlike the French writer in France, Camus perceives the city in contrast to the desert and native nomadic villages without any lesser administrative or socio - economic communities. Camus's definition of the city encompasses both of the large city and town.

● Work Citation :-

●Honigman, Irene Finel. " ORAN:
      PROTAGONIST, MYTH AND 
      ALLEGORY. " Modern Fiction Studies 
      Vol. 24, The Modern novel and
      the city, 1978, pp. 78 - 81.,
      https://www.jstor.org/stable/26281974

●LEAH, GORDON. " Debating God:
     Conversation about God in Albert
     Camus' The Plague. " HOLINESS,
     Vol. 4, no. 1, 2018, pp. 41 - 60.

●“THE BOOK OF LIFE.” Camus and the Plague
www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/camus-and-the-plague/.