How does The Plague serve as an allegory of the German occupation of France?

Published in 1947, The Plague serves as an allegory for the German occupation of France during World War II. By depicting the town of Oran struggling against a devastating epidemic, Albert Camus explores the complex moral landscape of the era, specifically addressing the themes of resistance and collaboration.123

The novel functions as an allegory by presenting the plague as a manifestation of evil, forcing characters to confront the necessity of taking a stand. Camus uses this narrative to offer a moral judgment: to remain passive or to fail to recognize and fight against such evil is to become complicit in it. Beyond the political subtext, the work emphasizes the importance of human dignity and fraternity in the face of overwhelming, often absurd, circumstances. Through these characters, Camus illustrates the ethical imperative to resist oppression, reflecting the spirit of the French Resistance in which he participated as an editor for the clandestine newspaper Combat.213