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A Rhetorical Essay analyzing what albert Camus would think about a zombie epidemic.
Rubi Olguin
Professor Hammet
English Composition II
1 December 2023
Word Count: 1099
Camus and a Zombie Epidemic
Albert Camus was a renowned author and French philosopher during the mid-20th century. His literary works expressed his ideology that life is unreasonable and void of deeper meaning. He supported this belief by creating novels illustrating themes of the absurdness of human life and the inevitability of suffering. In reviewing his writings and philosophy, Camus would consider a zombie apocalypse as a nonsensical situation in which people should accept their fate.
Camus's turbulent upbringing could have shaped his philosophical opinions. The struggles he faced in childhood and as a sickly college student established his viewpoints on existentialism and the significance of recognizing the absurdity of life. “Absurdism arises from the tension between our desire for order, purpose, and happiness and, on the other hand, the indifferent natural universe’s refusal to provide that” (Albert). He also proclaimed atheist views and the sole responsibility one harbored for one’s morals and actions. His writing and novels expressed these ideas; they all shared similar themes and included charterers coming to terms with their morality and accepting the absence of meaning life offers. Camus's philosophy of bearing the absurdity and frivolousness of life is particularly pertinent when discussing how he would view a zombie epidemic. “opening up his heart to the benign indifference of the universe.” (Camus 1942). His analysis and familiarity with distressing topics and circumstances would make him an expert on a zombie outbreak. He would consider the epidemic through the lens of his writing style and the characteristics of his literary genre, absurdism. His book The Plague analyzes the topic of human conduct and their ultimate fate when confronted with the impossible.
Camus wrote his fiction work The Plague to communicate to his readers the helplessness of humanity when threatened with a lethal virus. The Algerian city of Oran is the setting; the story follows complicated characters as they see the after-effects of a deadly virus ravaging their city. The main focus is the human condition and the struggle to survive an indifferent world. The characters deal with isolation, physical and mental exceptions, and the immense feeling of insignificance. “Thus, each of us had to be content to live only for the day, alone under the vast indifference of the sky: This sense of being abandoned, which might in time have given characters a finer temper, began, however, by sapping them to the point of futility.”( Camus 1947). This quote defines the feeling of forsaking and anguish faced when dealing with severe crises, referencing how the universe offers no guidance. This quote also hints at how this struggle can strengthen a person's nature. Victims of a zombie outbreak will also experience the struggles and thoughts of the characters from The Plague. Relating it to a zombie epidemic, this quotation from Camus reveals that he believed that when faced with a zombie epidemic, society will waste their time looking for an explanation but ultimately become stronger for it.
His bleak publications continually expressed Camus's philosophical views. However, even if he declares an optimistic sentiment in which an individual’s character can become more resilient in The Plague when presented with an emergency, in The Myth of Sisyphus, a famous essay and other writings, Camus's central argument is that humankind is doomed to an eternity of everlasting torment and the endurance of pointless effort. The title symbolizes the story of the man cursed by the gods to force a boulder uphill for the rest of his life, only for it to roll back down at the end of each day. “Man is the only creature that refuses to be what he is” (Camus 1942). This excerpt from the writing touches on the idea that humankind can oppose their natural tendencies and pursue purposes that may not align with their inherent disposition, leading to inner conflict as they strive for more notable fulfillment (Aken). In a zombie apocalypse, this reveals Camus's thoughts on how this advice could be applied by survivors, calling for accepting one fate and leaving it all up to chance.
The Stranger by Albert Camus portrays the protagonist, Meursault, murdering an unnamed man after his mother’s funeral (Dorfer). The main character in the novel lives his life without caring about his actions or the things around him. He believes that there are no certainties in the world other than death, and he lives as an outsider to society due to his insensible and callous way of thinking. "I looked up at the mass of signs and stars in the night sky and laid myself open for the first time to the benign indifference of the world " (Camus 1942). The quote signifies that the world is unconcerned with one's presence and that realization can be freeing. Camus’s idea of how the universe works expresses that during a zombie epidemic, he would think that, while the undead may overrun the world, everyone must tolerate and adapt to the new reality.
This acceptance of an apathetic world is what Camus was well known for, although his writing also represented depictions of resilience. Readers interpreted his works as having elements of resilience and courage when confronted with adversity. Some instances include the character Dr. Rieux in The Plague, who selflessly works to help the ill despite the unimaginable likelihood of the victims prevailing through the plague. This character exemplifies Camus's conviction in facing life's absurdity with intrepidity and resilience. Regarding a zombie epidemic, Camus's principles likely lead civilians to accept the problem rather than try to find a deeper meaning or antidote.” Given man’s circumscribed condition, are there honorable terms on which his life can be lived (Mambrol)”? At the same time, his assertions about the significance of resilience and courage could motivate them to face the tribulations of the apocalypse with bravery and determination.
Albert Camus's principles of absurdism and the happenings he experienced growing up formed his perspective on the meaning and purpose of life. His stories and articles convey his idea that humankind must accept the irrationality and pointlessness of life and bear the weight of regrettable events. His work, The Plague, provides insight into how he would view a zombie epidemic, where the main focus is the struggle to survive an indifferent world. Camus's idea of how the universe works expresses that everyone must tolerate and adapt to the new actuality occurring during a zombie epidemic.” Camus’s unforgettable contribution to the ongoing dialogue inspired by that vast subject is embodied in the three great novels he managed to complete before his untimely death (Mambrol).” In essence, Camus's viewpoint on how to live life can provide insight into how he would advise individuals when facing existential crises, including zombies.
References
Aken, E. V. (2019, May 2). Camus on the Absurd: The Myth of Sisyphus. 1000-Word
Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology. https://1000wordphilosophy.com/2019/05/01/camus-on-the-absurd-the-myth-of-sisyphus/
Albert Camus And His Theory Of Absurdism. (2022, October 29). Drishti IAS.
https://www.drishtiias.com/blog/albert-camus-and-his-theory-of-absurdism
Camus, A. (1991). The Plague. Vintage.
Camus, A. (2012a). The Stranger. Vintage.
Camus, A. (2012b). The Myth of Sisyphus And Other Essays. Vintage.
Dorfer, T. A. (2021, January 10). The Stranger — Albert Camus - Amateur Book Reviews -
Medium. Amateur Book Reviews. https://medium.com/amateur-book-reviews/the-stranger-albert-camus-1942-7e7fbddf7a26
MAMBROL, N. (2019, April 7). Analysis of Albert Camus’s Novels. Literary Theory and
Criticism. https://literariness.org/2019/04/07/analysis-of-albert-camuss-novels/
Sus, V. (2023, February 21). Albert Camus on the Meaning of Life: Faith, Suicide, and
Absurdity. TheCollector. https://www.thecollector.com/albert-camus-meaning-of-life/
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