Inexperienced minds in The PlagueThe city itself, let's admit it, is ugly. These are the words of Dr. Bernard Rieux, the narrator of Albert Camus' The Plague. His precise, non-exaggerated descriptions of a city's suffering bring the novel to life. The city of Oran is struck by the plague and Rieux, the city doctor, sees the city dying quickly. He joined forces with Jean Tarrou, Raymond Rambert, Joseph Grand and Father Paneloux, in the hope of defeating the invincible enemy. The quarantined town eventually defeats the disease, but not before suffering incredible losses. All men learn to know themselves and each other, while fighting against the plague. They realize that life is not limited to themselves and Oran. It is fragile, unpredictable, vulnerable and should be a time of happiness and honesty. The Plague takes place in Oran, a small Mediterranean town in North Africa. Dr. Bernard Rieux describes it as an ugly city. The Oranese are boring people who seem to love only during sex and who otherwise lead a monotonous and habitual life. The city's main interest is money, an interest that governs the lives of its inhabitants. Rieux describes the view of death in the city as something that happens daily, or as the normal daily process of dying. He then informs the reader that the coastal city does not actually face the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, it is almost impossible to see the bay from the city, a city that seems to turn its back on life and liberty. Rieux then begins the story of the plague. Rieux steps on a dead rat and soon sees them everywhere, with the townspeople. Their mouths are leaking blood and their corpses are bloated. Rieux and the people of Oran initially ignore the problem, blaming the sanitation office. How...... middle of paper ......ns. In reality, all it was meant to convey was the ordinariness of the city's appearance and the life that lived there. The theme appears at the end of this statement. Life in Oran was common and could not stop the inevitable. Finally, Rieux concludes by returning to the setting of the city. Although it is a port on the Mediterranean Sea, it has its back to the bay, so it is impossible to see the sea. The sea represents life, liberty and truth, qualities that the materialistic citizens of Oran never possess. When they finally desire them, the plague denies their wish. The citizens had no reason to fear the incidents that were occurring, because they knew nothing other than their business and their sad and unsightly city. They would soon realize that life involves much more than money and habits, but for now, they were left to their inexperienced minds..