When people are faced with difficult situations, they tend to lose control of their emotions and let their emotions control their actions. It is in these situations that people need to control their emotions more so they can focus on solving the problem. The absurd situation in the small African town of Oran is an unstoppable plague that strikes the city causing the deaths of many due to nature's most ruthless creation. Albert Camus, in his novel The Plague, demonstrates that life is absurd and meaningless through the random deaths of the city's people and the seemingly unstoppable plague. Doctor Bernard Rieux, in Camus' novel, realizes that the situation is absurd, but continues to do what needs to be done. Rieux's job as a doctor is to care for plague victims and help ease their suffering, but no matter what he does, his patients end up dying. To combat his emotions, Rieux embraces an apathetic attitude towards the absurd situation to continue his duty as a doctor. Characteristics like these define Rieux as the hero of the absurd. The concept of the absurd hero is used to develop Doctor Rieux in Albert Camus' The Plague, as he struggles to continue doing what needs to be done while dealing with the absurdity of his situation. Rieux's ability to fight his emotions to do what needs to be done defines him as the hero of the absurd; he is aware of the absurdity of his situation, yet “he continues to do his duty, no matter how useless or insignificant his action” (Lane). The absurd can be defined as “life, devoid of God and constantly confronted with the forces of evil, without an ultimate rational meaning” (Sollars). The absurdity is evident throughout the novel as the small town of Oran is infected with a plague. Camus demonstrates... middle of paper... low Doctor Rieux is apathetic towards people's suffering. With his emotions controlled, Rieux can continue to do what needs to be done under absurd circumstances. The concept of the absurd hero is used to develop Rieux as a character as he struggles to do what needs to be done in absurd circumstances. To counteract this struggle, Rieux becomes apathetic so his mind is not focused on his emotions, but on the task asked of him. As Rieux develops an apathetic attitude towards the plague, he dissociates himself to free himself from the suffering he witnesses every day. Albert Camus develops Rieux as this hero of the absurd with the situations he faces. These absurd situations actually cause many people to become stressed and emotional because they panic. The realization that life is absurd can free people from worries and emotions.