THE INFLUENCE OF THE EPIDEMIC ON SOCIETY IN ALBERT CAMUS' “THE PLAGUE”: PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

This paper discusses the extent of psychological suffering that prevailed in Albert Camus's novel "The Plague", which was published in 1947. In fact, suffering, especially psychological suffering, comes as a main character that affects every individual in the novel during the period of the spread of the plague and the isolation of the city of Oran from the outside world. Therefore, this novel explained the psychological suffering of the people of Oran while they were under the brunt of the plague through psychological conflict, panic and fear of the unknown future. Camus' descriptions of this novel and its accurate depiction of reality make readers understand the extent of the fatal psychological suffering that made their minds reflect on diaspora and absurdity. In the end, psychological suffering leads to life changes for most of the characters because it makes people realize a different side of life that was not known to them at all until the time of the plague.