A Journal of the Plague Year · Chapter
A Journal of the Plague Year explained
The narrator reflects on the spread of the plague through asymptomatic carriers and the tragic consequences of flight.
What happens
The narrator reflects on the spread of the plague through asymptomatic carriers and the tragic consequences of flight. He describes the varying symptoms of the disease, the initial lack of caution among the healthy, and the eventual widespread fear that led people to isolate. The poor are portrayed as particularly vulnerable due to necessity and reckless behavior. The chapter also recounts the story of John and his company, who fled London and set up camp in Epping Forest, negotiating with local authorities who feared they would bring the plague.
Themes in this chapter
Fear and Panic
Fear drives both the flight from London and the hostile reception of refugees by country towns, as well as the eventual isolation of the healthy from the seemingly healthy.
Social Class and Inequality
The poor are forced by necessity into hazardous work and cannot afford to flee or isolate, leading to disproportionate death rates and suffering.
Rumor and Information
Rumors about infected refugees and plundered towns influence the actions of local authorities and shape the narrative of blame and fear.
Characters to notice
- H.F.
The narrator observes and recounts the behavior of the infected, the poor, and the fleeing citizens, providing moral and practical commentary.
- John Cock
John leads a group of refugees from London, negotiating with Epping officials to allow them to camp in the forest, asserting they are healthy and seeking only safety.
- Master of the House
A brazier who, upon falling ill, isolates himself in an outbuilding to avoid infecting his family, demonstrating selfless caution.
- The Officers
Parish officers from Epping confront John's group, initially demanding they leave due to fear of plague contagion.
Key passages
“men went about apparently well many days after they had the taint of the disease in their vitals, and after their spirits were so seized as that they could never escape it, and that all the while they did so they were dangerous to others”
People could appear healthy for days while already carrying the fatal infection, unknowingly spreading it to everyone they encountered.
The narrator explains how asymptomatic carriers were a major vector of the plague.
“he immediately caused himself to be carried into an outbuilding which he had in his yard, and where there was a chamber over a workhouse (the man being a brazier). Here he lay, and here he died, and would be tended by none of his neighbours, but by a nurse from abroad; and would not suffer his wife, nor children, nor servants to come up into the room, lest they should be infected”
A brazier, upon realizing he had the plague, isolated himself in a shed and refused all contact with his family to protect them from infection.
An example of selfless behavior contrary to the rumor that the infected deliberately spread the disease.
“It is true, necessity was a very justifiable, warrantable plea, and nothing could be better; but their way of talk was much the same where the necessities were not the same.”
While poverty justified some risky behavior, many poor people used the same excuse even when they had safer options.
The narrator critiques the recklessness of the poor, though he acknowledges their dire circumstances.
“John answered very frankly, they were poor distressed people from London who, foreseeing the misery they should be reduced to if plague spread into the city, had fled out in time for their lives, and, having no acquaintance or relations to fly to, had first taken up at Islington; but, the plague being come into that town, were fled farther”
John explained that they were London refugees who had fled in time to save themselves, moving from Islington after the plague arrived there.
John defends his group's presence in Epping Forest, emphasizing their peaceful intentions and prior attempts to find safety.
