Joseph Grand

Joseph Grand in a way personifies the inaudible nature of the plague. He can never find words to express himself in just the right way. His problem is further demonstrated in his inability to write a letter to Jeanne and the creation of his novel, or lack thereof. The people of the town become more withdrawn and silent as the plague moves in because they, like Grand, can't figure out how to explain to others their pain of suffering and loss.

The plague is not only silent in that it causes people to be so, but it also comes and goes without a sound. Grand, near the end of the story, surprisingly contracts the plague, but recovers. Strangely enough, as the plague begins to disappear, not only from the town, but from Grand, Grand becomes more communicative. At the end of the book, he announces that he's sent a letter to Jeanne and he will persevere with his novel.

Grand shows that if the plague, essentially death, didn't silence him, what should keep him from being quiet? His preoccupation with finding the perfect way to convey his thoughts and feelings is no longer as critical as it was. He realizes that by spending so much time agonizing over each word, he almost missed the chance to express his true ideas. By the end, Grand understands that death is subsequent and that simply getting any word out is important before his time is up.