One April in the 1940s, in the seaside Algerian town of Oran, rats begin to die, first a few and then many more. People begin to die, as well, and while the town officials argue over whether the situation warrants being called an epidemic, at last there is no denying that the plague has arrived and is spreading rapidly. A quarantine is declared and no one is allowed to enter or leave. In this way Albert Camus set the scene for a deep exploration of how individuals react and interact under extreme physical, psychological, and moral pressure. The characters in the novel display the entire range of human reactions to the situation: some are paralyzed by fear, some seek to profit from the situation, and others dedicate themselves to helping as many people as they can.

The novel, published in 1947, was read both as an allegory of the Nazi occupation of France during World War II and as a testament to the potential for courage and humanity in the face of evil and death, which are inevitable aspects of life. During the recent pandemic, the novel became a best-seller again, as people looked for ways to understand what was happening and how to get through the solitude and the fear of illness. It is ultimately a hopeful book, and the central message is best expressed in these words spoken by one of the characters: “On this earth there are pestilences and there are victims, and it’s up to us, so far as possible, not to join forces with the pestilences.”

Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a French-Algerian Nobel Prize-winning novelist, essayist, dramatist, journalist, philosopher, and political activist. The course will begin with a brief overview of his life and his philosophical framework, after which class periods will be devoted to close reading and discussion of the text.

Students are expected to have access to a computer and email.