Introduces characters and setting. Also shows that a rat infestation is starting to happen in Oran. Many are afraid of what is to come.
CLIMAX
Dr. Rieux
Rats are infecting the people of Oran.Many are dying from an outbreak. Rieux, Tarrou, and other volunteers take action and help the needed. Officials take action by closing Oran's gates. This traps the people of Oran which could be similar to a jailhouse.
FALLING ACTION
Trapped in Oran many are frightened,lonesome, and at lost. Knowing that a plague is infesting their town, the people's state is all around the place. Rieux and the others work to make an antidote. They can't help but feel the town's feelings as well.
RESOLUTION
The death rate increases as time pass by. Rieux develops an experimental antidote but is unsure of its capability. They test it on a boy named Jacques Othon but the results are unsuccessful. Slowly, they start to wonder if there is hope for them.
The plague took many people's lives, as a result, many lost hope and accepted the trapped life of theirs. Rieux and the others start to accept this as Paneloux dies and Grand and Tarrou catch the plague. They are at almost a complete end of a line.
The plague ends resulting in Tarrou's death, Cottard's insanity, and the relief of the surviving people. Rieux reveals himself to be the narrator and tells why he told this story. Readers are left to think if the plague is really over.