Why was Camus's The Plague hailed as one of the greatest novels of modern times?
The Plague by Camus was published in 1939 and is considered one of the greatest novels of the 20th century for the following reasons: 1. Unique storyline and structure: The novel begins with a sudden outbreak of the plague, showing the profound impact of the epidemic on human nature, society, and history through the perspective of the protagonist, Ali Belmont. This kind of non-linear narrative made the development of the story full of suspense and surprise, but also more fascinating. 2. Profound social implications: Through Ali Belmont's experience, the novel explored important issues such as the nature of human nature, freedom and responsibility. The outbreak of the epidemic and Ali Belmonte's experience made him deeply aware of the limitations of human freedom and responsibility, and at the same time, strengthened his belief in freedom. 3. Attention and reflection on the fate of mankind: The novel is not only a story about the epidemic, but also a deep reflection on human society. Through Ali Belmont's experience, the author thinks about the fate of mankind, the development of history and the nature of mankind, which makes the novel have a deeper philosophical significance. 4. Literature value: The language of the novel is concise, bright and full of poetry and philosophy. The author used a lot of metaphor and symbolism to make the novel have a deep artistic appeal and literary value. In addition, the novel also won several important literary awards, including the 1939 French Knight of the Arts and Literature, which also proved that it was highly recognized in the literary world.