"The story of a town in Algeria and how the townspeople are affected by the sudden onset of plague and the months of quarantine that follow. It follows the life of Dr Rieux and various of his acquaintances as they deal with the death and isolation that has befallen the town's residents. A story of fear and survival and the seeming absurdity and arbitrariness of human existence. "
John Marcel, Resident Scholar
"The citizens of the French-Algerian city of Oran live without passion or meaning in their lives, but then the plague hits. Seen through the eyes of Rieux, a doctor who has to live through the ordeal without the comforts of his family or even news from them, this book shows how an entire society can be changed completely within a few months. Rieux tends to the fallen, witnesses the deaths of his own friends, and, like his fellow citizens, learns the true meaning of life."
Cate Franklyn, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of The Plague
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- depressed
Time/era of story
- 1930's-1950's
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians
Yes
Conflict:
- Environmental Disaster
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- doctor
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality
- French
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- natural phenomena
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- throughout most of the book.
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 6 (an above average amount)
Africa
Yes
Kind of Africa:
- Arabic Africa
- White Enclave
City?
Yes
City:
- dangerous
Small town?
Yes
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Amount of dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
