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Suffering And Morality In The Plague By Albert Camus

Decent Essays

Two central themes to understanding the human condition are suffering and morality. Humans contrive morality to be a set of values deemed right or wrong in a society, and are often defined by institutions. These guidelines shape the way people live and how they react to life’s circumstances. Suffering is one emotion crucial to the understanding of existence. In a time of pain, an individual often seeks direction from a higher power, like the church. Institutions such as religion are a way of expressing morality and a means to cope with suffering, a crucial understanding of the human condition. In “The Plague” by Albert Camus, his construction of the human condition is centered on the catastrophic plague in the town of Oran. Dr. …show more content…

Morality provides answers and comfort during suffering, and institutions are one vessel through which it is available. Religious institutions are integrated into the human condition as they provide guidelines on how to live. Father Paneloux represents the institution of the church throughout the novel and reverberates themes of Christianity. In his second sermon to the people of Oran, he feels states “we must believe everything or deny everything. And who among you…would dare to deny everything?” forcing the people to make a decision about their religious views (Camus, 224). The institution, in this case, the Christian church, gives direction to Paneloux by forcing him to hold steadfast to Christianity. His principles guide him through his pain and help him process powerful emotions that would otherwise be too agonizing. He must hold onto faith in order to survive this tragic event.
Suffering shapes morality through the way an individual responds to a situation. Dr. Bernard Rieux’s reaction to the death of a child differs from those of Father Paneloux because of their views on morality. While Rieux “is concerned with a man’s health; and for [him] his health comes first” Planeloux is “working for a man’s salvation” (Camus, 219). So, as Rieux lashes out the priest, he is expressing his suffering in an earthly manner, knowing the final pain in the human condition. Rieux sees the agony of people on a daily basis,

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