The first people stricken with the "white plague," the plague of
blindness end up in an abandoned mental institution. As the internees go
in single-file to the bathrooms, the car thief feels up the young woman
in the dark glasses and she kicks him, injuring him w/ her high heels
(this will not go well for him). He has already stolen the first blind
man's car. He's clearly not what we would call a good man, but he is not
even close to the worst man that we will see in this novel. The truth
is that this "disease" or whatever it is seems to bring out the best in
some people, but it also brings out the worst in others. I wonder if we
can reach any conclusions about this fact? Don't we like to think that
people pull together in time's of struggle? Think about the volunteers
at 9/11 and first responders who sacrificed their lives. Now think about
people who scam victims' families or set up fake fund-raisers. All
sci-fi and post-apocalyptic stories tell us something about the world we
live in now. What does this novel tell us about our current society?
Other questions:
- Why do none of the characters have names? Why does this city not have a name?
- Why do all the blind people see the color white?
- How did you react to the official announcement of the govt. at the mental institution (pp. 42-44)?
- What do you think will happen next?
- What questions do you have?
Actually, I was wondering if the plague was a consequence for those that'd done malicious things previously or currently, such as the thief stealing the old man's car. So them getting cursed with the white plague was intended for them to become united, find a solution and just overall change from being malevolent to being more benevolent for everyone's sake, as well as a life lesson. The plague has brought out the best in some of the victims. Such as the prostitute being compassionate and caring after the frightened young boy. But now that you say that the "disease" also brings out the worst in others, it questions my theory. When all of the victims were brought to the institution, the car thief sexually harassed the young woman with dark glasses. Now that I see that one of the victims aren't showing characteristics of being humane and wanting to be united, I'm questioning what's the purpose of this white plague. I'm kind of confused about what this novel is trying to tell us about our current society. But I do think it's trying to show us the morality among people in a dystopian society. I think none of the characters have names because the author is trying to trying to focus more on the character's behavior. Or maybe because he's trying to convey the characters as selfish and immoral, not bothering to know anyone's name hence why they don't have names at all. I have another prediction that the characters don't have names, and why the city doesn't have a name because anyone could be selfish or immoral, and you can find selfish, immoral people anywhere in the world at any time. This novel could also have a racial aspect to it. Maybe the characters are white and probably believe in their white privilege and dislike people of different ethnicity's. So they're being punished to see white for being xenophobe's. At first, I thought the announcement the government made was harsh and they were treating them as slaves. The rules they had set were inhumane, such as washing their own clothes by hand when they can't even see. This can be compared to how Jews were treated during the holocaust, they were confined to cages and only let out to do chores but were ultimately confined to a chamber and left to die. Just how these victims are confined to mental institution are left to die. But now, I think how the government is treating them is all apart of their punishment. As I continue to read the novel, I think some of them will start to go crazy and rebel and it will just make matters worst but ultimately they will come together. But I do think someone is going to die in the novel because someone always dies in post-apocalyptic stories.
ReplyDeleteGreat response, Andrea. I think it's natural to be confused. It's not clear what lesson, if any, Saramago is trying to impart. That people become worse when adversity hits? But, as you point out, some people become better, more selfless? Somehow, I think that the doctor's wife, and the little band that surrounds her, is part of his message, but it's complicated. Keep going.
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