Another aspect of these things is the massive, incomprehensible effect that they have. ... Rieux questions himself, "But what are a hundred million deaths? ... Even after he comes to realize that even the innocent are dying he still has beliefs rooted in God's divine will. ... This aspect of life's relation to the plague could correspond with Tarrou's discussion of having had the plague before. ... This leads him into the second stage where he tries to deny that something so horrible could happen in their small city. ...

• Word Count: 2446
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School