Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
The symptoms of the plague and its spread are linked to the weather. When it is hot, the disease gets worse. When it is cold, the disease gets better. Great – that’s rational, right? Except the weather actually doesn’t make any sense. At times of worst depression and suffering, the sun is out and the sky shining. The weather actually has nothing to do with plague conditions, or with the moral or emotions of the citizens of Oran. In fact, you could even say it is indifferent – much like the rest of the world to the plight of human suffering.