The Close Relationship between Literature and Epidemics

Since ancient times,epidemics have been closely connected with human society,and have often exerted considerable influence upon the course of history.They also find expressions in numerous literary works. "The Decameron", by Italian author Boccaccio,is a masterpiece in the era of Renaissance.Its narrative framework is set against a background of the Black Death ravaging Europe in the 14th century.The novel The Plague and the drama "State of Siege", both composed by French writer Albert Camus,demonstrate a panorama of epidemics,foregrounding man's will to revolt and abnormal changes in mentality.And White Snow,Black Crows,a novel by contemporary Chinese writer Chi Zijian,presents a detailed description of the plague shrouding China's northeast over a century ago.Chi concentrates on people's struggles and pains in Harbin under the pressure of epidemics,and offers a vivid display of ordinary life at that time.It can be seen in some literary works that though writers would sometimes fail to work out a panorama of epidemics,epidemics still play an important role in characters'lives,recharting the courses of their fate. W. S. Maugham is a popular British writer,whose novel The Painted Veil focuses on the rebirth of the female protagonist,Katie.A frivolous woman,she came to an area ravaged by epidemics,and ended up experiencing a radical spiritual growth.With a purified soul,she plucked up courage and started a new life.Similar drastic changes can be found in Death in Venice,a novella written by German author Thomas Mann.The protagonist,Achenbach,was a writer who happened to be on vacation in Venice.Having fallen in love with a Polish boy,Tadzio,Achenbach chose to stay as a cholera outbreak took place on the scenic spot.This erotic adventure eventually led to his infection and demise.In Mann's view,Achenbach embraced a "elevated sense of life that transcends all civilized life experiences",which is in line with German Romanticism.