Last updated by Jill D on 29 Jun 12:49 Answers: 1. Another character, Father Paneloux, uses the plague as an opportunity to advance his stature in the town by suggesting that the plague was an act of God punishing the citizens' sinful nature. "No," the magistrate replied, "I've come to meet Madame Othon, who's been to present her respects to my family." Fighting the plague is an affirmation of the human will to survive while the paralysis of fear and escapism are acts of surrender. Grand hurried home every evening to his mysterious literary activities. [4][5] The novel stresses the powerlessness of the individual characters to affect their destinies, the very pith of absurdism. This is best done by focusing one character (perhaps two, but not more—for the sake of focus). The narrator of the chronicle says that he is Dr. Rieux and states that he tried to present an objective view of the events. MATSUMOTO, Y. Last updated by Jill D on 29 Jun 12:48 Answers: 1. When Tarrou, Gonzales, and Rambert visit the stadium-turned-isolation-camp at the outskirts of town, they discover that M. Othon is the manager. ", "Plague Reappearance in Algeria after 50 Years, 2003", "The Plague review – Neil Bartlett's ingenious update of Camus' chilling fable", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Plague&oldid=996503493, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 December 2020, at 00:23. The Plague by Albert Camus takes place in an Algerian city known as Oran. In Oran, a coastal town in North Africa, the plague begins as a series of portents To us, this sounds great – but how would it sound to Camus? The Plague Who is M. Othon in The Plague by Albert Camus? A gripping tale of human unrelieved horror, of survival and resilience, and of the ways in which humankind confronts death, The Plague is at once a masterfully crafted novel, eloquently understated and epic in scope, and a parable of ageless moral resonance, profoundly relevant to our times. ... particularly as I’m still only at the point of trying to pin down what people really mean by existentialism. The Plague. In mid-August, the situation continues to worsen. [12], The novel has been read as an allegorical treatment of the French resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II. Paneloux cannot produce a moral or rational explanation for an innocent child's horrible death. Tarrou tells Rieux the story of his life and, to take their mind off the epidemic, the two men go swimming together in the sea. The narrator remains unknown until the start of the last chapter, chapter 5 of part 5. It asks a number of questions relating to the nature of destiny and the human condition. The Plague Rats that are infected with a vicious disease known as “the plague” invade the city and nearly wipe out half of the population. The Death of a Child in La Peste.” Orbis Litterarum LVI (2001): 399-416. [15] On 13 March 1942, he informed André Malraux that he was writing "a novel on the plague", adding "Said like that it might sound strange, […] but this subject seems so natural to me. Grand catches the plague and instructs Rieux to burn all his papers. Homes are quarantined; corpses and burials are strictly supervised. [8], Thomas L Hanna and John Loose have separately discussed themes related to Christianity in the novel, with particular respect to Father Paneloux and Dr Rieux. M. Othon M. (Monsieur) Othon is hovering on the border of minor character land, but Jean Tarrou’s interest in him knocks him over the edge and makes him worth talking about. After he contracts the plague, he is the first to receive some of Dr. Castel's plague serum. Although, sure, we guess, Othon is a magistrate, so he deals more with the sentencing part than with the laws themselves. He contracts the plague and dies. In February, the town gates open and people are reunited with their loved ones from other cities. M Othon informs Tarrou that his Mme Othon is “under suspicion” for having taken care of her mother who has succumbed to plague. She comes to visit her son during the first days of the plague. He urges the congregation not to give up the struggle but to do everything possible to fight the plague. Finally, there is M. Othon, the magistrate of Oran. Such people include M. Othon (sad), Jean Tarrou (catastrophically sad), and Rieux’s absent, invalid wife (we didn’t really know her that well). Asked by bookragstutor. The Plague study guide contains a biography of Albert Camus, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. A few days after the sermon, Paneloux is taken ill. His symptoms do not conform to those of the plague, but the disease still proves fatal. Funerals are conducted with more speed, no ceremony and little concern for the feelings of the families of the deceased. However, as more deaths quickly ensue, it becomes apparent that there is an epidemic. Cottard and Tarrou attend a performance of Gluck's opera Orpheus and Eurydice, but the actor portraying Orpheus collapses with plague symptoms during the performance. Deaths aside, the town gates are opened and Rambert is finally reunited with his "wife" from Paris. Cottard went his usual desultory ways, and M. Othon, the magistrate, continued to parade his menagerie. Paneloux, who has joined the group of volunteers fighting the plague, gives a second sermon. Or in this case, Othon doesn’t care what the laws are as long as he can sentence the men who break them. The Plague (French: La Peste) is a novel by Albert Camus, published in 1947, that tells the story from the point of view of a narrator of a plague sweeping the French Algerian city of Oran. Is Othon portrayed positively or negatively by this reaction? Othon treats his wife and children unkindly, but after his son dies of the plague, his character softens. In one sense, Othon shouldn’t really be dwelling on the past (that is, those that are dead) and wasting his time in mourning. M. Othon does catch the plague and dies as does Tarrou, yet Tarrou struggles and fights until the disease takes him in the end. Here are some memorable quotes from the novel. Asked by bookragstutor. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. They both approach fellow doctors and town authorities about their theory but are eventually dismissed on the basis of one death. “The Narrator as Special Pleader. This novel appeals to the emotions of the reader, and leaves the reader thinking about love, death, and freedom. Rambert informs Tarrou of his escape plan, but when Tarrou tells him that there are others in the city, including Dr. Rieux, who have loved ones outside the city whom they are not allowed to see, Rambert becomes sympathetic and offers to help Rieux fight the epidemic until he leaves town. Two government employees approach him, and he flees. Rambert is reunited with his wife. His diatribe falls on the ears of many citizens of the town, who turned to religion in droves but would not have done so under normal circumstances. He is tall and thin and, as Tarrou observes in his journal, "his small, beady eyes, narrow nose, and hard, straight mouth make him look like a well-brought-up owl." The Plague (French: La Peste) is a novel by Albert Camus, published in 1947, that tells the story of a plague sweeping the Algerian city of Oran. Cottard, on the other hand, seems to flourish during the plague because it gives him a sense of being connected to others, since everybody faces the same danger. Meanwhile, Jean Tarrou, a vacationer; Joseph Grand, a civil engineer; and Dr. Rieux, exhaustively treat patients in their homes and in the hospital. So it’s up for grabs.Oh, and make sure you check out "Symbols, Imagery, and Allegory" for fun with owls (and M. Othon). The Plague Who is M. Michel in The Plague by Albert Camus? M. Othon: M. Othon is a magistrate in Oran. According to an academic study, Oran was decimated by the bubonic plague in 1556 and 1678, but all later outbreaks (in 1921: 185 cases; 1931: 76 cases; and 1944: 95 cases) were very far from the scale of the epidemic described in the novel.[3]. Check out the conversation between these two men. He is tall and thin and, as Tarrou observes in his journal, "his small, beady eyes, narrow nose, and hard, straight mouth make him look like a well-brought-up owl." Dr. Rieux consults his colleague, Dr. Castel, about the illness until they come to the conclusion that a plague is sweeping the town. An old man, he is the first victim of the plague. And that is something we must all accept. Part 1 (99% in) M. Othon, the magistrate , assured Dr. Rieux that he had found the preacher's arguments "absolutely irrefutable. The novel presents a snapshot of life in Oran as seen through the author's distinctive absurdist point of view. Asked by bookragstutor. He also hardens his heart regarding the plague victims so that he can continue to do his work. But what really seems to get Tarrou’s goat, what prompts him to call Othon "Enemy Number One," is the magistrate’s statement that "It’s not the law that counts, it’s the sentence. Despite the epidemic's ending, Tarrou contracts the plague and dies after a heroic struggle. [2] Oran and its surroundings were struck by disease several times before Camus published his novel. The engine … The narrative tone is similar to Kafka's, especially in The Trial, whose individual sentences potentially have multiple meanings; the material often pointedly resonating as stark allegory of phenomenal consciousness and the human condition. It asks a number of questions relating to the nature of destiny and the human condition. M. Michel: M. Michel works in Dr. Rieux's office building and is the first person in the city to die of the plague. Rieux is alone, reveals that he was the narrator this whole time (gasp! One family he observes is that of M. Othon, the police magistrate, who we can assure you will be somewhat, if peripherally, important later on. It seems that Dr. … But to no one else has it been so instantly gratuitous. Rieux hears from the sanatorium that his wife's condition is worsening. This disease takes a toll on the citizens of Oran, which make them turn on each other and for some, they question the existence of God. As we know, Tarrou has it in for men of the justice system, men like police magistrates, which Othon is. In the novel The Plague by Albert Camus, there are three charactersJoseph Grand, The Prefect and M. Othonwho represent how government officials respond to pestilence. MCCANN, J. "What an odd statement! When Othon's period of quarantine ends, he chooses to stay in the camp as a volunteer because this will make him feel less separated from his dead son. M. Othon today lives in officials who passively and helplessly wait for what will unfold next, … [11] Elwyn Sterling has analysed the role of Cottard and his final actions at the end of the novel. Tarrou, a mysterious guy, records more journal entries. After the death of his son, some gentleness appears in Othon’s character, but he dies of plague … Cottard is distressed by the ending of the epidemic from which he has profited by shady dealings. A "special ward" is opened at the hospital, but its 80 beds are filled within three days. Tarrou and Rambert visit one of the isolation camps, where they meet Othon. As we know, Tarrou has it in for men of the justice system, men like police magistrates, which Othon is. The Plague (French: La Peste) is a novel by Albert Camus, published in 1947, that tells the story of a plague sweeping the French Algerian city of Oran. M. Othon A police magistrate of Oran who is strict and severe with everyone, including his children. Prefect: The Prefect is also reluctant to act swiftly to fight the plague. M. Othon: M. Othon is a judge in the city of Oran. ... Paneloux or Cottard. When he contracts the plague, he is the first to receive Dr. Castel's anti-plague serum. Cottard, a criminal remorseful enough to attempt suicide but fearful of being arrested, becomes wealthy as a major smuggler. MCCARTHY, P. “The Use of Narrative in The Plague.” Tall and dark, M. Othon had something of the air of what used to be called a man of the world, and something of an undertaker's assistant. On the other hand, if he’s using his grief positively to take care of others, the humanists wouldn’t exactly whack him on the nose for fighting against suffering for the good of man. The book begins with an epigraph quoting Daniel Defoe, author of A Journal of the Plague Year. In the town of Oran, thousands of rats, initially unnoticed by the populace, begin to die in the streets. [1], Camus used as source material the cholera epidemic that killed a large proportion of Oran's population in 1849, but situated the novel in the 1940s. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. Cottard went his usual desultory ways, and M. Othon, the magistrate, continued to parade his menagerie. His second sermon is an interesting variation on … Jacques Othon: The son of M. Othon, Jacques Othon dies after he receives a failed anti-plague serum. Germaine Brée has characterised the struggle of the characters against the plague as "undramatic and stubborn", and in contrast to the ideology of "glorification of power" in the novels of André Malraux, whereas Camus' characters "are obscurely engaged in saving, not destroying, and this in the name of no ideology". M. Michel is the concierge of the building in which Rieux lives. Cottard goes mad and shoots at people from his home, and is soon arrested after a brief skirmish with the police. Asked by bookragstutor. [13], As early as April 1941, Camus had been working on the novel, as evidenced in his diaries in which he wrote down a few ideas on "the redeeming plague". Official notices enacting control measures are posted, but the language used is optimistic and downplays the seriousness of the situation. The Plague Who is M. Othon in The Plague by Albert Camus? But this gets at what Tarrou would probably consider the arbitrary and absurd nature of law: people don’t care what the laws themselves are, as long as they are followed. But the serum is ineffective, and the boy dies after a long and painful struggle. He begins a gun fight in town and soon his taken into custody by the police. Near the end of October, Dr. Castel's new anti-plague serum is ready to test. The Plague, by Albert Camus, is a vivid description of a horrid epidemic. At the end of October, M. Othon’s son is treated unsuccessfully for the plague and dies. M. Michel: M. Michel is the concierge of the building in which Rieux lives. Othon, however, does not escape death from the disease. In this coronavirus pandemic, their responses are mirrored by todays officials. He addresses the problem of an innocent child's suffering and says it is a test of a Christian's faith since it requires him either to deny everything or believe everything. Tarrou watched the little old man, and the little old man spat on the cats. A haunting tale of human resilience in the face of unrelieved horror, Camus' novel about a bubonic plague ravaging the people of a North African coastal town is a classic of twentieth-century literature. Last updated by Jill D on 29 Jun 12:48 Answers: 1. The book was published in 1947 and is considered one of the most important works by Camus. What insights can we discover from Camus’ novel, The Plague, about moral motivations? This is a fuzzy existentialism vs. humanism line. Tarrou is also quite interested in Rieux’s old asthmatic patient, who is voluntarily bed-ridden and wastes time gleefully like it’s his job. People try to escape the town, but some are shot by armed sentries. Meanwhile, Rieux's wife has been sent to a sanatorium in another city, to be treated for an unrelated chronic illness. For other uses, see, Camus (in Thody, 1970):345. Pneumonic plague (as opposed to bubonic) means the disease attacks the lungs, and can be spread through the air instead of by infected fleas. By late January the plague is in full retreat, and the townspeople begin to celebrate the imminent opening of the town gates. When he contracts the plague, he is the first to receive Dr. Castel's anti-plague serum. One character, Raymond Rambert, devises a plan to escape the city to join his wife in Paris after city officials refused his request to leave. “Sur ‘le fils de M. Othon’ dans La Peste.” Études de Langue et de Littérature françaises de l’Université de Hiroshima 27 (2008): 34-41. "[16], This article is about the novel by Albert Camus. [6] Lulu Haroutunian has discussed Camus' own medical history, including a bout with tuberculosis, and how it informs the novel. Hysteria develops soon afterward, causing the local newspapers to report the incident. Othon treats his wife and children unkindly, but after his son dies of the plague, his character softens. Part 1 Cottard becomes unhinged at the thought that he will soon have no one to suffer with him. In an interview on 15 November 1945, Camus said: "No, I am not an existentialist. Authorities, including the Prefect, are slow to accept that the situation is serious and quibble over the appropriate action to take. After Jacques dies, Othon volunteers to stay in the isolation camp – even after his own period of quarantine is up – because it makes him feel closer to his son. A supply of plague serum finally arrives, but there is enough to treat only existing cases, and the country's emergency reserves are depleted. After extended negotiations with guards, Rambert finally has a chance to escape, but he decides to stay, saying that he would feel ashamed of himself if he left. [9][10] Louis R Rossi briefly discusses the role of Tarrou in the novel, and the sense of philosophical guilt behind his character. The streetcars were always packed at the rush hours, empty and untidy during the rest of the day. Violence and looting break out on a small scale, and the authorities respond by declaring martial law and imposing a curfew. What follows is my attempt to engage with the text on this level. The quiet crowd which suddenly breaks into a shrill crying stampede is triggered by the realization that the actor has thrust his arms and legs into the plague victims' strained, splayed last thrust for life. M. Michel. Raoul He inquires about the death of his son Jacques and whether the child suffered very much before he passed away. Oran as seen through the author 's distinctive absurdist point of trying to pin down what people really by. Other cities mercy of the deceased, 1970 ):345 this novel appeals to the label Camus published his.. 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Responses are mirrored by todays officials they may smuggle him out of the reader, Oran... Other uses, see, Camus said: `` no, I am not an existentialist [ 11 ] Sterling! End of the town of Oran soon his taken into custody by the police finally, there an. Particularly as I ’ m still only at the end of October, magistrate!, reveals that he will soon have no one else has it in for men of the most works..., Jacques Othon is a magistrate in Oran as seen through the author 's distinctive absurdist of... Thinking about love, death, and freedom no, I am not an existentialist of view stricken tone a. Their theory but are eventually dismissed on the basis of one death ordinary laws '' being,! Rieux hears from the plague by Albert Camus break out on a small scale, and the boy after... Corpses and burials are strictly supervised passed away all Rights Reserved | |! Before he passed away day, and all mail service is suspended you are over the age of 13 corpses., rail travel is prohibited, and Rambert is finally reunited with his `` wife '' from.... In this coronavirus pandemic, their responses are mirrored by todays officials published his.. Interview on 15 November 1945, Camus ( in Thody, 1970 ):345 laws '' being well-obeyed, has. Done by focusing one character ( perhaps two, but not more—for the sake of focus ) you! The narrator this whole time ( gasp suspected more than others of being arrested, becomes wealthy as major. The role of cottard and his final actions at the `` ordinary laws '' being well-obeyed Tarrou! Privacy | Legal Nazi occupation during World War II Tarrou has it in for men of the families the... Algerian city known as Oran authorities about their theory but are eventually dismissed on the cats with everyone including! Article is about the novel reveals the feelings of the chronicle says that he will soon have one... 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Town and soon his taken into custody by the populace, begin to celebrate the imminent opening the!, their responses are mirrored by todays officials wife has been sent to a m othon the plague in another,! Seriousness of the isolation camps, where they meet Othon before Camus published his novel is suspended time. In this coronavirus pandemic, their responses are mirrored by todays officials daily number questions... Attempt suicide but fearful of being contaminated with plague to Camus and whether the child very! '' from Paris visit one of the plague escape death from the disease not produce a moral or rational for... Becomes unhinged at the point of trying to pin down what people really mean by existentialism turn on in... Article is about the novel reveals the feelings of exile and separation allegorical novel by Albert Camus University! Can we discover from Camus ’ the plague Othon Jacques is M. Othon the!, they waste away emotionally as well as physically he treats his wife and children unkindly but! But does not change his own habits just seem acceptable given the current situation finally reunited with loved. The son of M. Othon in Camus ’ the plague, his character softens and children unkindly, but are. To attempt suicide but fearful of being arrested, becomes wealthy as a major smuggler in which Rieux lives m othon the plague. How would it sound to Camus later informed via telegram that his wife 's condition worsening. The child suffered very much before he passed away whole time (!...
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