This paper will explore and contrast the depictions of pandemics in Daniel Defoe’s A Journal of the Plague Year(1722) and Albert Camus’ The Plague (1947). While both works engage with the theme of pestilence, they differ significantly in their historical context, narrative style, thematic emphasis, and philosophical perspectives. Defoe’s novel A Journal of the Plague Year (1722),set amidst the bubonic plague outbreak of 1665 in London, adopts a first-person narrative approach, resembling a journal or chronicle. It meticulously documents the physical, social, and psychological effects of the plague on London society, emphasising survival and resilience amidst adversity. On the other hand, Camus’ novel The Plague(1947), set in the fictional Algerian city of Oran during a bubonic plague outbreak, employs a third-person omniscient narrator. It explores existential themes such as the absurdity of human existence, the quest for meaning in suffering, and the nature of heroism amidst a seemingly absurd crisis. This comparative analysis examines how Defoe’s work focuses on the practical aspects of survival and societal breakdown, while Camus’ novel explores the philosophical underpinnings of human response to calamity. By juxtaposing these two narratives, this paper sheds light on the evolution of pandemic literature and offers insights into the ways historical and existential perspectives shape our understanding of pandemics across centuries.
Research Scholar, Department of English, Patliputra University, Patna
