A 5 essay exploring the pivotal importance of Father Paneloux in the work by Albert Camus. 1 source.
Name of Research Paper File: JR7_RAcamus3.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
In Camus story we are presented with many characters, perhaps the primary character being Dr. Rieux. Each individual meets death somewhat belligerently and ignorantly, and Dr. Rieux is witness to
it all. Through his eyes we see another important character, Father Paneloux, a man of faith, but a man who also comes to see that religion is not the cause,
the answer, and it does not explain the condition that is natural and inevitable. In the following paper we examine the character of Father Paneloux, discussing his importance to the
novel and his evolution throughout the tale. Father Paneloux In the beginning of the story we see the slowly creeping plague begin to arrive in the small town.
Dr. Rieux recognizes it, but also offers us a look at the individuals in the town, which helps us to better understand the evolution of Father Paneloux: "the truth is
that everyone is bored, and [everyone] devotes himself to cultivating habits" (Camus 5). Father Paneloux is like everyone else in the town. He is set in his ways, as well
as his beliefs. He is mundane and incredibly predictable. And, Father Paneloux, along with the entire town knows that disease such a the plague does exist, but never imagine it
in their town, affecting their people: "everybody knows that pestilences have a way of recurring in the world; yet somehow we find it hard to believe in ones that crash
down on our heads from a blue sky. There have been as many plagues as wars in history; yet always plagues and wars take people equally by surprise" (Camus 34).
When the plague begins the people quickly dismiss it, for it has only killed a few rats. But, on the fourth day we see things change for "on the