Life goes on, but worse

Good book. It is certainly about plague in the literal, but equally about pestilence in the metaphorical. Rieux, our main character, sums it up nicely, noting that the joy of the town is temporary, as plague only lies dormant, never dies. This can be applied to any evil - say, autocracy or whatever -ism of the day. 

The outsider of the town, Tarrou, held some quality beliefs. His rabid hate for the death penalty, and to any action that might cause death. The isolation this firmity of belief brings. The unattainability of sainthood. This resonates with how I've felt lately about my consumption and lifestyle; everything I do has consequences, and it feels impossible to find internal peace or feel moral about all of my actions. 

"And they advanced argumetns, often quite impressive ones, to make me swallwo what nonetheless I couldn't bring myself to stomach. I replied that the most eminent of the plague-stricken, the men who wear red robes, also have excellent arguments to justify what they do..." [p. 251]

(2026/01/03)