Redefining the Heroic Archetype

The hero in the novel 'The Plague' is a doctor who rejects nostalgia and utopianism, choosing to confront the absurdity and common sense of the situation. This refusal of closure on radical uncertainty is highlighted as a useful dialogue about the nature of heroic archetypes, which are often portrayed as warrior-oriented in our culture. However, the hero is seen as someone who proactively confronts problems, not just a warrior.