We should rather rebel than return to normal. An essay on re-reading The plague in the times of an epidemic

Abstract

When the pandemic broke out in 2020, it was reported that interest in Albert Camus’ book, The plague, had significantly risen. Throughout the past year, many scholars and editors have attempted to formulate reasons for interest in Camus’ existential novel. In the light of these readings and interpretations, we tend to see recent events, our contemporary social and political crises, through the symbols and myths represented in Camus’ novel. This essay offers an attempt at a contemporary re-reading of Camus’ novel, focusing on the character of Tarrou and his appeal to social and political action, as well as resistance and creation. My point is that it is actually Tarrou that represents our struggle, given the complex, social and political aspects of our crisis. My reading, based on Kierkegaard’s idea of repetition, offers a nuanced vision of what rebellion against the plague could mean in the light of our contemporary situation.