The Real Plague :: essays research papers

The Real PlagueAlthough never given permission to consume, by supernatural or natural means, man has reserved for himself the right to kill other men. This self-imposed right has been put into use in our civilizations and countries. Whether train of logic is offered or non, murder is very difficult to justify. As existentialists cogitate, "honesty with oneself" cannot be compromised in any shape or form. Why, then, does man murder? Perhaps man tries to use the excuse of good intentions to escape the responsibility for his actions. In Camus, The Plague, denim Tarrou dares to go against the idea of men having the right to kill other men. He represents a small part of the general public, in both the novel and in real life. While most of the character development is based on the direct conflict with the physical pestilence, Tarrou takes on a more powerful eccentric of offense as well as this corporeal epidemic his goal is not only of combating the plague which physically ro bs men of life, but to suppress the plague which ravages mens hearts, specially his own. To start a task force, one needs people. When Rieux and Tarrou converse, they discuss who to put into the task force. Rieux suggests that maybe Jean should consider using some of the prisoners in the jail to work against the plague. After dealing with plague-stricken men all his life, Tarrou rejects this proposal. Tarrou comments, "I loathe mens being condemned to death," (125). Tarrous conclude for that not wanting prisoners to be used deviates from the ordinary. While many would object to prisoners being sent out to work because they do not deserve to be set free. Tarrou has different reasons. Because the plague is equal to death, Tarrou would want no part in forcing men to take part in. He wants volunteers, "free men,"(124) to confront death, not impressed individuals. This reveals an important belief of his of man is to confront death, it should be by his own desires and ch oices, not by something which "fancies it knows everything and therefore claims for itself the right to kill," (131). Many people would believe that the prisoners deserve to die. After all, these men are the worst mankind has to offer, and the world may even be a better place without them. This is the type of precept one uses to assume he "knows everything.