immediate rejoicing for the citizens. Rhein observes that “Oran does not begin to jubilate immediately at the first signs of the plague’s waning. Hope has become so slender that it cannot bear the weight of sudden happiness. It must be strengthened with caution and a degree of fear”(Rhein 125). After being held like prisoners, the Oranians, like most would, attempt a number of wild escapes. Their new freedom is almost overwhelming. Spritzen suggests that “Oran had certainly been prison-like and the most escape attempts occur during the last weeks of the sentence; temptation increases until common sense is overpowered”(Spritzen 287). Riley adds, “It is evidence that men are able to once more live without breathing death onto one another. Man is free to once again effect his own exile if he wishes. The plague has given him a chance for examination of his values; he must now rebuild his future in terms of what he has learned”(Riley 93). Life is being returned to the people and once again they can afford a variety of “silverscreen illusions.” After all, the return to life after the gates are opened will have all the outer aspects of Before. Yet even this will be an illusion. Every person will carry scars of the plague and each Oranian will have somewhat of a new dimension as an individual. Throughout the chronicle Rieux has commented on the townspeople’s failure before the plague to attain a more varied, joyous, appreciative sense of life. Now, he sees lovers wishing to slow their new moments into slow motion so as to savor all of its thrill. For the present human love is violently rekindled.Throughout The Plague we see both the town of Oran ans its citizens change along with various stages of the Plague. It seems to go through stages of unawareness, awareness, death, commitment and life. This way we see a change that occurs from the beginning of the novel from a...
