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          What would Albert Camus, French philosopher, author, dramatist, journalist, world federalist, and political activist think about the black plague. Ablert often pondered the “was life is worth living” (Sus 1). Through this he would believe that the black plague would be a natural event not to be messed with. So there was no logical reasoning for the Black Plague. It was absurd to the people of that time period it caused distraught. It would strike randomly and give no warning to once infected leading to death. People of medieval times scrambled for answers and cures. Many more religious people prayed for forgiveness believing that this was a punishment for the sins they have committed. Camus did not believe in organized religion, often rejecting religion as one of his foundations. He stated “We are born and then at some point we die don’t try to make sense of or rationalize these events. As an atheist, the author would have laughed about people’s blaming and questioning of fairness and justness by an almighty God ''. It is irrational to search for life's meanings in life through tragic events.

The plagues’ massive spread over medival england caused a widespread fear of death causing people to commit suicide. This was a topic Camus addressed frequently throughout his life and in his writings (“The Black Death of 1348 to 1350”).  “There is only one really serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide,” so claims Camus in his essay The Myth of Sisyphus (Hendricks 1). The lumps on the groin and armpits livid black spot, dehydration, chill, and a fever drove people of the time insane leading to self harm and death. The Black Plague itself killed 1.5 million out of four thousand infected that were recorded. These led to thousands to lead to suicide to prevent the suffering from the horrible symptoms with limited medical knowlege or health. ‘There is only one really serious philosophical question, and that is suicide’” (Camus 1). To avoid the Black Death and its horrible symptoms that caused pain and suffering, some Medieval individuals contemplated suicide (“The Black Death 1348” 1). Camus would calmly reiterate that death is part of the cycle of life—don’t try to make sense of it so why would you try and end before its your destined time. Camus often death is a part of the human cycle so don't try and make sense about it.

Today, Camus’ basic arguments on suicide are still debated in college courses and remain relevant in today’s society: 

• Is suicide a “rejection of freedom”? 

• Do we flee from the “absurdity of reality into illusions, religions, and deaths”? 

• Instead of “fleeing the absurd meaninglessness of life, should we embrace life passionately”? (Kershaw 1). 

Suicide was neither a question or problem but more of an act against them selves. “Is suicide justifable or just bad desions” might be a better questions. Philosophers might look into why the will to not live is a thing. Because suicide means your giving up and life and all hope you onc once had. 

 

          People should not run from problems, they should embrace them. This is something Camus often stated and heavily believed. For suicide was running away from your problem and not solving it. Camus was not a fan of suicide, and, instead, rejected it as a means of escape. He believed people should work through issues to find the reason to live to find their reason to be alive, not a reason to give in and quit.Camus used a character to show you just change for the better and not take pity on yourself for your own actions.  The example of this is in The Plague in the end when one of the main characters commits suicide because he knows he will go to jail and be sentenced for his crimes (Camus 1). The character is not remorseful for his horrible actions and knows Death is his fate. 

Camus would have been happy to see the questions arise about religion as so many had lost faith in the church as he was an atheist . However it would have brought sorrow for all those that died to the epidemic Camus’ stressed that “government and society imposed too many laws and rules and restricted individual freedom and rights during epidemics”, which occurred during the Black Plague (Kershaw 1). 

          In an epidemic where the rich prospered and the poor passed, Camus found the correlation between health and success with money. Those who were happy had the security of financial success and freedom to fund anything and everything they desired. The rich could afford to stay away and not be infected. Where the poor had to go out and work just to not worry about starving. Camus addressed the issue of desperation and survival amongst different classes of people during a social epidemic (Camus 1).  This leads bad the issue of suicide and happiness playing a huge part. The writer of  The Plague understood the class's work and the more famous he became the happier and higher quality life he began to live. He also recognizes the change in the social class with the people surrounding him. While also bringing the high end of life with fancy homes, food and ect. Even with that happiness can still be found everywhere even in the low class its irrational to look to far into these things as they can lead down dark roads that  all coe bad to the main point if the absurdity of suicide. Camus vast research and time spent in this suicide focused mainly in the meidevil times in england and the black plague

          Now in todays society the threat of suicide is at an all time high. Camus' finding and beliefs are still used to teach his clear message not to chase what comes on its own. His absurd ideas and religious views has made a platform for those that believe in findings as a philosopher. In the end the search for the meaning of life is an endless rabbit hole that leads most to find nothing.

 

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Works Cited

Black Death - Causes, Symptoms & Impact | HISTORY, 17 September 2010, https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/black-death. Accessed 8 May 2024.

EyeWitness to History - history through the eyes of those who lived it, http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/. Accessed 8 May 2024.

Hendricks, Scotty. “Albert Camus on suicide, absurdity, and the meaning of life.” Big Think, 20 March 2023, https://bigthink.com/personal-growth/the-meaning-of-life-albert-camus-on-faith-suicide-and-absurdity/. Accessed 8 May 2024.