Contextualizing Inclusion and Connection in an Absurd World: An Analysis of Albert Camus’ The Plague

Abstract

Scholars have extensively analyzed Albert Camus’s The Plaque, while interpreting its narrative through existential and absurdist lenses. However, little literature is recorded on how the novel contextualizes themes of inclusion and human connection amidst an absurd world. This study addresses this gap by examining the dynamics of solidarity and shared resistance among the characters within the framework of Camus’s philosophy of the absurd. The aim is to ex-ray how Camus reconciles the tension between the absurd and the human need for meaning through collective action and emotional bonds. A qualitative methodology is employed, involving a close textual analysis of the study’s sample text to identify instances of inclusion and connection. The study is guided by the theoretical framework of Camusian absurdism, which emphasizes the relationship between rebellion and solidarity as responses to existential uncertainty. Findings reveal that Camus portrays inclusion and connection not merely as acts of resistance against the absurd but as pathways to rediscover a semblance of meaning in life. The communal efforts to combat the plague in Oran underscore an important perspective on the human condition where shared struggles transcend the isolation imposed by absurdity. Contributing to extant academic debate, the study presents new viewpoints on the social and philosophical dimensions of Camus’s work. This reinforces discussions on absurdism and its implications for modern existential challenges in an otherwise indifferent world