symbolism in camus the plague

For the first essay for Integrative Studies 300 I would like to write on the Camuswork, The Plague. Since Albert Camus has a philosophical view unlike that of manywestern writers, the book can serve as an excellent reflection on an unpopular view oflife, living, and death. Life without a god poses many ironies; Camus attempts to satisfythose ironies. By using many examples of symbolism, Camus conveys his own philosophy in acertain way so that his characters are subject to his personal ideals and morals. Camusbelieves there is no god, and essentially that human beings need to be responsible fortheir own lives, happiness, and decency. Through the eyes of all of his characters, theauthor answers questions like: "Why be optimistic?", "Why be moral?", "Why live if weare just going to die?", and "Why hope?". Camus contends that there are human values that are good in themselves; it is justgood to be moral. In this essay I plan to connect the characters, symbolism, and mypersonal feelings and values with this idea. Such evidence as people being good to aneighbor in time of need or people volunteering to adopt a family for the holidays aremany times based on a desire to simply do something good, not a necessarily a desire toplease a god or receive a reward. Finally, without a god (or even with a god for that matter) Camus says that weneed to be responsible and create our own hope. By looking carefully at the characters inthe book, I plan to also show Camus' press for responsibility among the people. Theultimate goal of this essay is to make prominent Camus philosophical views of a godlessworld in which the people hold the responsibility of living a moral and hope-filled life. . For the first essay for Integrative Studies 300 I would like to write on the Camuswork, The Plague. Since Albert Camus has a philosophical view. hope?". Camus contends that there are human values that are good in themselves; it is justgood to be moral. In this essay I plan to connect the characters, symbolism,