Humanity and Epidemic, a research presentation during the time of lockdown.

1. Humanity in the time of
Epidemic and the role of
Literature in shaping it
Hema D. Goswami
Visiting faculty at Maharani Shree
Nandkunvarba Mahila Arts and Commerce
College

2. Humanity?

3. Self Sacrifice vs Self
Centeredness
3

4. 02
03
01
Humanity in the time of Epidemic
4
Deathly diseases
Self sacrifice
Self-centered
Covid-19
04

5. Role of Literature
5

6. Role of literature
6
Keeps
record
Connects
with larger
truth
Moulds
human
behaviour
Reflection
of reality
Thought
provoking

7. “Humanity” in
“The Plague by
Albert Camus
7

8. Dr. Bernard Rieux
A man of around 35 age, treats the first victim of plague
in the novel
He urges the authority to take action to stop the spread
of the epidemic
He heads an auxiliary hospital and works long hours
treating the victims
He never gets home until late.
Rieux works to combat the plague simply because he is a
doctor and his job is to relieve human suffering. He does
not do it for nay grand, religious purpose.
He is a practical man, doing what needs to be done
without any fuss
8
01

9. Jean Tarrou
Arrived in Oran some weeks before the plague
It is Tarrou who first comes up with the idea of organizing teams of
volunteers to fight the plague.
He does not like the official plan to get prisoners to do the work.
He feels that the plague is everybody’s responsibility and that
everyone should do his or her duty.
When the plague epidemic is virtually over, Tarrou becomes one of
its last victims but puts up a heroic struggle before dying
He tells Rieux, is how to become a saint even though he does not
believe in God
9
02

10. Raymond Rambert
a journalist who is visiting Oran to research a story
He was trapped in a city and tried many ways to
escape. However changed his mind later.
He decides to stay in the city and continue to help
fight the plague, saying that he would feel ashamed
of himself if he pursued a merely private happiness.
He feels that he belongs to Oran and the plague is
everyone’s business, including his.
10
03

11. Joseph Grand
Fifty-year-old clerk for the city government
When the Plague takes a grip on the town, Grand
joins the team of volunteers, acting as general
secretary, recording all the statistics.
Grand catches the plague himself, but then makes
an unexpected recovery.
11
04

12. Father Paneloux
learned and respected Jesuit Priest
Father Paneloux says that Plague is a scourge send
by God to those who have hardened their heart
against him.
Paneloux joins the team of volunteer workers and
preaches another sermon saying that the death of
the innocent child is the test of faith.
After few days Paneloux is taken ill and refused to
call for a doctor, trusting in God alone, and dies.
12
05

13. What literature is trying to
highlight: “Sikh hum bite yugo se naye
yug ka kare swagat
We should learn the lesson of humanity. Literature
defines humanity.
We have to learn from records
We have to make changes.
We have to be the reason for nation’s development
We have to fight together.
13

14. Works Cited
Barad, Dilip. The Plague - Albert Camus. Bhavnagar, 1 May 2020.
contributors, Wikipedia. The Plague. 12 May 2020. 15 May 2020
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?>.
eNotes editorial. Importance of studying Literature. 14 October 2012. 15
May 2020 <http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/why-study-
literature-important-what-skills-do-408329>.
HARARI, YUVAL NOAH. "In the Battle Against Coronavirus, Humanity Lacks
Leadership." Time 15 March 2020.
Lorenzo, Angelo. "Literature Is Powerful. Literature Defines Humanity."
Thought catalog 5 March 2014.
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