Aids And The Moral Education Of Social — страница 2

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right and that the opposite are wrong; and that human beings have the responsibility to choose the former rather than the latter. THE PLAGUE adds to this awareness Camus’ sense of the inevitability of evil. In human action and in society, evil emerges as much from intended good as from intended evil, often inescapable despite the best of intentions (4) (Camus, 1960 p110). He asks in consequence: How can we orient ourselves to the inevitability of evil? Must we yield to it or can we act to maintain our integrity, to choose the good, in spite of it? (5)VIRTUES, ROLE MODELS AND CAMUS’ MAIN CHARACTER, RIEUXIn the Judeo-Christian tradition, the “virtues” have been traditionally taught through the lives of the prophets and the saints. In modern times, the professions have

recognized the necessity of role models and have also had their heroes celebrated in popular biographies and autobiographical works. For example, in medicine, Sir William Osler (6) (Cushing, 1925) is often cited as an exemplar of the humanistic physician (7). Florence Nightingale (8) (Bishop, 1952) is nursing’s patron “Saint”, as are Jane Addams (9) (Addams, 1910) and Mary Richmond, social work’s patrons. Understanding the realities rather than the myths of such lives in social, cultural and professional context, studying their character strengths and weaknesses and the reasons for these can help the practitioner tease out what is worthy of emulation, what can and cannot be applied to him or herself, in his or her own situation. It is my view that more of such study

should be promoted in professional education. But along with this, the study of fictional characters in appropriate situations can also be of use. An author’s creative imagination and artistic skill, dealing with approriate situations can often touch the reader more profoundly than a biographer or autobiographer’s concern with establishing facts. The main character of THE PLAGUE is the public health physician and narrator of the story, Dr. Bernard Rieux. His identity as narrator is not revealed until the book’s conclusion, it would seem, in order that the author might allow the character to distance himself from his feelings in telling the tale, and in describing Rieux’s role within it. The ability to achieve such detachment and distance while remaining fully engaged in

action is perhaps the first strength which Camus shows us in Rieux, both as narrator of the story and as participant in its events. In this, we see a health-social service professional fully capable of placing the evils of the plague in the perspective of history and sociological analysis while remaining engaged in the attempt to eradicate that evil, or at least mitigate the suffering it causes. Thus, Rieux begins with a rather detached description of his own home town, site of THE PLAGUE (10) (Camus, 1960, p5). As the story goes on, we find Rieux both as narrator and participant attempting to place the town’s evolving understanding of and mobilization against the plague in historical and sociological context. His analyses yield insight which he then uses in planning his own

work and in his post-plague reflections. Rieux first sees a phase of “denial”. Initial problems are either ignored or explained away both by public officials and the “man in the street”. When symptoms and rising mortality become incontrovertible, public and official concern is finally expressed. Bureaucrats attempt to calm the populace and take cautious first steps. Finally, when the symptoms and statistics can no longer be minimized, a state of plague is pronounced and more drastic measures taken. The people persist in their denial and protest curbs on their freedom. However, the town finally acknowledges its situation and settles into a long siege, coping with the death or exile (quarantine) of loved ones and the poisoning of life’s daily pleasures. “Plague had

killed all colour, vetoed all pleasure”. (11) (Camus, 1960, p95). People try to compensate. They resort to bacchanals or superstition or “false” prophecy. Opportunists respond by profiteering; others with generous service. After many months, the plague subsides, then disappears. Again we see denial, hope against hope for the end while fearing disappointment. The plague is officially declared “over”. Emergency measures are revoked. There are reunions and great rejoicing. Life returns with renewed meaning. While describing these phases, Rieux reflects upon them and upon his own reactions. He looks to history and to social analysis for understanding while continually stressing the FACTS of his observatons, the symptoms, the deaths. Analytically recognizing the need for