Dr. Rieux Influences The Plague

Additionally Dr. Rieux as an affluent citizen often influences how the plague is viewed throughout the novel along with the small sections when events are viewed through Tarrou’s eyes. In the first place during part three Dr. Rieux questioned the organization of human society when mentioning how both prisoners and guards alike were struck down by disease and goes even further with mentioning how during funerals “In a patch of open ground dotted with lentiscus trees at the far end of the cemetery, two big pits had been dug. One was reserved for the men, the other reserved for the women. Thus, in this respect, the authorities still gave thought to propriety and it was only later that, by the force of things, this last remnant of decorum went

Rieux seems to influence the readers perspective by seemingly suggesting that societal order was breaking down at the time thus making the plague seem even more grim. In addition during a discussion with Tarrou, Dr. Rieux’s reveals that he is an atheist Tarrou also does the same during the discussion between two of them this is later reinforced when Rieux addresses the priest Paneloux over the death of Jacques Othon a young child who suffered greatly before his death and was also the son of the conservative magistrate M. Othon. Rieux states “No, Father. I’ve a very different idea of love. And until my dying day I shall refuse to love a scheme of things in which children are put to torture.”(218). This also affects his view of the plague as an atheist he does not believe in an afterlife which not only increases the feeling of urgency in curing those infected but also heightens the emotional impact of each death and also increases pressure on Rieux which will also influence his thinking. During a conversation between Dr. Rieux and Tarrou they also put a spin on how the plague is viewed during a discussion “Tarrou nodded. “Yes. But your victories will never be lasting; that’s all.” Rieux’s face darkened. “Yes, I know