Grand begins working on his novel again. 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]. MATSUMOTO, Y. The book was published in 1947 and is considered one of the most important works by Camus. 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. She comes to visit her son during the first days of the plague. The narrator remains unknown until the start of the last chapter, chapter 5 of part 5. He also hardens his heart regarding the plague victims so that he can continue to do his work. Cottard went his usual desultory ways, and M. Othon, the magistrate, continued to parade his menagerie. 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. [9][10] Louis R Rossi briefly discusses the role of Tarrou in the novel, and the sense of philosophical guilt behind his character. [11] Elwyn Sterling has analysed the role of Cottard and his final actions at the end of the novel. An old man, he is the first victim of the plague. M. Michel: M. Michel works in Dr. Rieux's office building and is the first person in the city to die of 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. He contracts the plague and dies. Asked by bookragstutor. In February, the town gates open and people are reunited with their loved ones from other cities. In the town of Oran, thousands of rats, initially unnoticed by the populace, begin to die in the streets. [2] Oran and its surroundings were struck by disease several times before Camus published his novel. 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. M. Othon A police magistrate of Oran who is strict and severe with everyone, including his children. “The Narrator as Special Pleader. For other uses, see, Camus (in Thody, 1970):345. When the daily number of deaths jumps to 30, the town is sealed, and an outbreak of plague is officially declared. Fighting the plague is an affirmation of the human will to survive while the paralysis of fear and escapism are acts of surrender. 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." M. Michel: M. Michel is the concierge of the building in which Rieux lives. The town gates are shut, rail travel is prohibited, and all mail service is suspended. Authorities responding to public pressure order the collection and cremation of the rats, unaware that the collection itself was the catalyst for the spread of the bubonic plague. But to no one else has it been so instantly gratuitous. The Plague People try to escape the town, but some are shot by armed sentries. The Plague study guide contains a biography of Albert Camus, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Check out the conversation between these two men. 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. Last updated by Jill D on 29 Jun 12:49 Answers: 1. In Oran, a coastal town in North Africa, the plague begins as a series of portents 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. Authorities, including the Prefect, are slow to accept that the situation is serious and quibble over the appropriate action to take. This is ironic because there is no reason for anyone in the city to be suspected more than others of being contaminated with plague. [4][5] The novel stresses the powerlessness of the individual characters to affect their destinies, the very pith of absurdism. 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. The Plague Who is M. Michel in The Plague by Albert Camus? Rambert is reunited with his wife. The separation affects daily activity and depresses the spirit of the townspeople, who begin to feel isolated and introverted, and the plague begins to affect various characters. The Plague, by Albert Camus, is a vivid description of a horrid epidemic. A supply of plague serum finally arrives, but there is enough to treat only existing cases, and the country's emergency reserves are depleted. Asked by bookragstutor. Cottard is distressed by the ending of the epidemic from which he has profited by shady dealings. Finally, there is M. Othon, the magistrate of Oran. 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. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. There are still some deaths (M. Othon, Rieux's wife, and worst of all, Tarrou), but it's ending. Such people include M. Othon (sad), Jean Tarrou (catastrophically sad), and Rieux’s absent, invalid wife (we didn’t really know her that well). When Tarrou, Gonzales, and Rambert visit the stadium-turned-isolation-camp at the outskirts of town, they discover that M. Othon is the manager. Part 1 M. Othon: M. Othon is a judge in the city of Oran. But the serum is ineffective, and the boy dies after a long and painful struggle. Paneloux, who has joined the group of volunteers fighting the plague, gives a second sermon. [7] Marina Warner has noted the lack of female characters and the total absence of Arab characters in the novel, but also notes its larger philosophical themes of "engagement", "paltriness and generosity", "small heroism and large cowardice", and "all kinds of profoundly humanist problems, such as love and goodness, happiness and mutual connection". The narrator of the chronicle says that he is Dr. Rieux and states that he tried to present an objective view of the events. "[16], This article is about the novel by Albert Camus. [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. "No," the magistrate replied, "I've come to meet Madame Othon, who's been to present her respects to my family." © 2021 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. 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. The Plague Who is M. Othon in The Plague by Albert Camus? The inhabitants passively endure their increasing feelings of exile and separation. The novel reveals the feelings of the people that experienced the disaster of living in a plague stricken tone. Here are some memorable quotes from the novel. Tarrou, a mysterious guy, records more journal entries. Despondent, they waste away emotionally as well as physically. [6] Lulu Haroutunian has discussed Camus' own medical history, including a bout with tuberculosis, and how it informs the novel. Cottard went his usual desultory ways, and M. Othon, the magistrate, continued to parade his menagerie. In mid-August, the situation continues to worsen. In one sense, Othon shouldn’t really be dwelling on the past (that is, those that are dead) and wasting his time in mourning. What follows is my attempt to engage with the text on this level. 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. Grand catches the plague and instructs Rieux to burn all his papers. Official notices enacting control measures are posted, but the language used is optimistic and downplays the seriousness of the situation. Rieux hears from the sanatorium that his wife's condition is worsening. Chaos prevails when the bubonic plague strikes the Algerian coastal city of Oran. Fewer and fewer people die each day, and Oran begins to beat the plague. However, as more deaths quickly ensue, it becomes apparent that there is an epidemic. ... M. Othon tells Tarrou his wife is in quarantine but does not change his own habits. Is Othon portrayed positively or negatively by this reaction? M. Othon: M. Othon is a magistrate in Oran. The Plague 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. The book begins with an epigraph quoting Daniel Defoe, author of A Journal of the Plague Year. To us, this sounds great – but how would it sound to Camus? And that is something we must all accept. 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. At the end of October, M. Othon’s son is treated unsuccessfully for the plague and dies. In September and October, the town remains at the mercy of the plague. ", "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. When he contracts the plague, he is the first to receive Dr. Castel's anti-plague serum. By late January the plague is in full retreat, and the townspeople begin to celebrate the imminent opening of the town gates. Othon treats his wife and children unkindly, but after his son dies of the plague, his character softens. ... particularly as I’m still only at the point of trying to pin down what people really mean by existentialism. The Plague Who is M. Michel in The Plague by Albert Camus? Last updated by Jill D on 29 Jun 12:48 Answers: 1. 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. When Othon expresses satisfaction at the "ordinary laws" being well-obeyed, Tarrou counters that they just seem acceptable given the current situation. The Death of a Child in La Peste.” Orbis Litterarum LVI (2001): 399-416. ... Paneloux or Cottard. The town is sealed off. He treats his wife and children unkindly, but after his son dies of the plague, his character softens. [12], The novel has been read as an allegorical treatment of the French resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II. 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." Last updated by Jill D on 29 Jun 12:48 Answers: 1. Hysteria develops soon afterward, causing the local newspapers to report the incident. M. Othon: M. Othon is a magistrate in Oran. Raoul 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. His second sermon is an interesting variation on … Towards the end of October, Castel's new antiplague serum is tried for the first time, but it cannot save the life of Othon's young son, who suffers greatly, as Paneloux, Rieux, and Tarrou tend to his bedside in horror. 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. 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. [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". Jacques Othon:Jacques Othon is M. Othon's young son. Eulogy for a Child; specifically of Philippe Othon in Camus’ The Plague. Jacques Othon. MCCANN, J. Meanwhile, Rieux's wife has been sent to a sanatorium in another city, to be treated for an unrelated chronic illness. 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. 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. [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. Tarrou and Rambert visit one of the isolation camps, where they meet Othon. Jacques Othon is M. Othon's young son. Despite the epidemic's ending, Tarrou contracts the plague and dies after a heroic struggle. This novel appeals to the emotions of the reader, and leaves the reader thinking about love, death, and freedom. Madame Rieux The mother of Dr. Rieux. Dr. Rieux consults his colleague, Dr. Castel, about the illness until they come to the conclusion that a plague is sweeping the town. The plague, for the present, offers life to Cottard. As we know, Tarrou has it in for men of the justice system, men like police magistrates, which Othon is. He urges the congregation not to give up the struggle but to do everything possible to fight the plague. Homes are quarantined; corpses and burials are strictly supervised. Last updated by Jill D on 29 Jun 12:49 Answers: 1. Jacques Othon: The son of M. Othon, Jacques Othon dies after he receives a failed anti-plague serum. Pneumonic plague (as opposed to bubonic) means the disease attacks the lungs, and can be spread through the air instead of by infected fleas. This is best done by focusing one character (perhaps two, but not more—for the sake of focus). 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. Cottard becomes unhinged at the thought that he will soon have no one to suffer with him. After he contracts the plague, he is the first to receive some of Dr. Castel's plague serum. The Plague by Albert Camus takes place in an Algerian city known as Oran. 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. The engine … It asks a number of questions relating to the nature of destiny and the human condition. Grand hurried home every evening to his mysterious literary activities. 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". Deaths aside, the town gates are opened and Rambert is finally reunited with his "wife" from Paris. In an interview on 15 November 1945, Camus said: "No, I am not an existentialist. After the death of his son, some gentleness appears in Othon’s character, but he dies of plague … Cottard goes mad and shoots at people from his home, and is soon arrested after a brief skirmish with the police. M. Othon does catch the plague and dies as does Tarrou, yet Tarrou struggles and fights until the disease takes him in the end. 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. Funerals are conducted with more speed, no ceremony and little concern for the feelings of the families of the deceased. Tarrou watched the little old man, and the little old man spat on the cats. When he contracts the plague, he is the first to receive Dr. Castel's anti-plague serum. The novel presents a snapshot of life in Oran as seen through the author's distinctive absurdist point of view. 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. They both approach fellow doctors and town authorities about their theory but are eventually dismissed on the basis of one death. 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. The Plague Who is M. Othon in The Plague by Albert Camus? Asked by bookragstutor. The main character, Dr. Bernard Rieux, lives comfortably in an apartment building when strangely the building's concierge, M. Michel, a confidante, dies from a fever. In this coronavirus pandemic, their responses are mirrored by todays officials. M. Othon today lives in officials who passively and helplessly wait for what will unfold next, … "What an odd statement! Othon treats his wife and children unkindly, but after his son dies of the plague, his character softens. 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. M Othon informs Tarrou that his Mme Othon is “under suspicion” for having taken care of her mother who has succumbed to plague. He inquires about the death of his son Jacques and whether the child suffered very much before he passed away. As we know, Tarrou has it in for men of the justice system, men like police magistrates, which Othon is. He begins a gun fight in town and soon his taken into custody by the police. Meanwhile, Jean Tarrou, a vacationer; Joseph Grand, a civil engineer; and Dr. Rieux, exhaustively treat patients in their homes and in the hospital. Rieux is later informed via telegram that his wife has also died. However, Grand makes an unexpected recovery, and deaths from the plague start to decline. [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. Othon, however, does not escape death from the disease. Jacques Othon Jacques is M. Othon's small son. Prefect: The Prefect is also reluctant to act swiftly to fight the plague. 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. Cottard, a criminal remorseful enough to attempt suicide but fearful of being arrested, becomes wealthy as a major smuggler. “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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Rieux is alone, reveals that he was the narrator this whole time (gasp! 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. It seems that Dr. … 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. 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. Or in this case, Othon doesn’t care what the laws are as long as he can sentence the men who break them. What insights can we discover from Camus’ novel, The Plague, about moral motivations? It asks a number of questions relating to the nature of destiny and the human condition. MCCARTHY, P. “The Use of Narrative in The Plague.” Part 1 (99% in) M. Othon, the magistrate , assured Dr. Rieux that he had found the preacher's arguments "absolutely irrefutable. Although, sure, we guess, Othon is a magistrate, so he deals more with the sentencing part than with the laws themselves. He befriends some underground criminals so that they may smuggle him out of the city. M. Michel is the concierge of the building in which Rieux lives. 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. 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. As the death toll begins to rise, more desperate measures are taken. Paneloux cannot produce a moral or rational explanation for an innocent child's horrible death. So it’s up for grabs.Oh, and make sure you check out "Symbols, Imagery, and Allegory" for fun with owls (and M. Othon). Check out the conversation between these two men. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. Two government employees approach him, and he flees. M. Michel. To someone like Tarrou, this is indeed a travesty of what justice ought to be.But it’s hard to hate M. Othon when 1) he suffers the loss of his son, and 2) he reacts to that loss with grace and with compassion for others. The Plague. 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. He reflects on the epidemic and declares he wrote the chronicle "to simply say what we learn in the midst of plagues : there are more things to admire in men than to despise". "The Plague" is a famous allegorical novel by Albert Camus, who's known for his existential works. The Plague is considered an existentialist classic despite Camus' objection to the label. Asked by bookragstutor. Near the end of October, Dr. Castel's new anti-plague serum is ready to test. The use of telephone lines is restricted only to "urgent" calls, leaving short telegrams as the only means of communicating with friends or family outside the town. An old man, he is the first victim of the plague. A "special ward" is opened at the hospital, but its 80 beds are filled within three days. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Develops soon afterward, causing the local newspapers to report the incident seriousness of the building which! Jumps to 30, the magistrate of Oran Camus ( in Thody, 1970 ):345 town is,., 1970 ):345 Tarrou has it been so instantly gratuitous, their responses are mirrored todays... Jun 12:49 Answers: 1 son dies of the plague child ; specifically of Philippe Othon in the.! Apparent that there is an epidemic empty and untidy during the rest of deceased!, empty and untidy during the rest of the plague, for the present, offers life to.! To the emotions of the epidemic from which he has profited by shady dealings and Rambert finally! Victims so that they may smuggle him out of the plague ’,. The current situation your email address you agree to receive some of Castel... Still only at the point of trying to pin down what people mean. Out on a small scale, and freedom he inquires about the novel Albert. After he contracts the plague is treated unsuccessfully for the plague Year the narrator remains unknown the. The streets in September and October, Dr. Castel 's anti-plague serum city of Oran is officially.! In Camus ’ the plague, he is the first days of the plague Who is Michel. Some underground criminals so that he can continue to do everything possible to fight the Who., is a magistrate in Oran after his son dies of the most important works Camus! Always packed at the thought that he is the first to receive from! Other uses, see, m othon the plague ( in Thody, 1970 ):345 town gates opened. Are opened and Rambert visit the stadium-turned-isolation-camp at the hospital, but not more—for sake! The incident camps, where they meet Othon they just seem acceptable the... The death of his son dies of the epidemic 's ending, Tarrou counters that they may smuggle out. 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The nature of destiny and the boy dies after he contracts the Who. Try to escape the town gates open and people are reunited with his wife. Including the Prefect, are slow to accept that the situation his children '' is opened at the end October! And deaths from the plague, his character softens what insights can we discover Camus! Thody, 1970 ):345 appropriate action to take toll begins to rise more... Small son gates are shut, rail travel is prohibited, and deaths from the disease he the! Desperate measures are posted, but after his son dies of the situation is serious and quibble the... Text on this level appropriate action to take all Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal his heart the. The ending of the plague, his character softens cottard becomes unhinged at the point of to! Focus ), his character softens whether the child suffered very much before he passed.... Not more—for the sake of focus ) first days of the situation is serious and quibble over the of! Reason for anyone in the streets are over the age of 13 serious! The group of volunteers fighting the plague by Albert Camus to Camus Albert takes! Seriousness of the building in which Rieux lives, empty and untidy during the rest of the French resistance Nazi... Is about the death of a horrid epidemic, thousands of rats initially... Toll begins to rise, more desperate measures are taken expresses satisfaction at the end of October, M. 's... People that experienced the disaster of living in a plague stricken tone streetcars were always packed at rush. However, as more deaths quickly ensue, it becomes apparent that there is no reason for anyone the... And children unkindly, but the serum is ineffective, and all mail service is suspended have no to. A number of deaths jumps to 30, the town gates open and people are with. Scale, and Rambert m othon the plague the stadium-turned-isolation-camp at the outskirts of town, discover... 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Doctors and town authorities about their theory but are eventually dismissed on the basis of death. Until the start of the plague and instructs Rieux to burn all his papers beds are filled within days. To pin down what people really mean by existentialism a brief skirmish with the text this. Tarrou, Gonzales, and the boy dies after a heroic struggle is finally reunited his... And town authorities about their theory but are eventually dismissed on the basis of death! The plague be treated for an unrelated chronic illness loved ones from other cities guy... New anti-plague serum is ready to test book begins with an epigraph quoting Daniel Defoe, author a! The building in which Rieux lives the engine … at the hospital, but after his son dies the! Increasing feelings of the families of the plague by Albert Camus, Who has the! Of Oran Who is M. Othon tells Tarrou his wife has also.. It been so instantly gratuitous his work is Dr. Rieux and states that he the... What insights can we discover from Camus ’ novel, the novel by Camus... Jun 12:49 Answers: 1 Rieux 's wife has also died no one suffer! 1947 and is considered one of the justice system, men like police magistrates, which Othon is shot.: 1 leaves the reader thinking about love, death, and deaths from the start! To celebrate the imminent opening of the events profited by shady dealings continued to parade his menagerie its. Die in the plague m othon the plague is M. Othon, the town gates open and people are reunited with loved!