Pandemic Literature: The psychological effect of Corona Virus on the protagonist in David Hare's Beat the Devil

Abstract

This research deals with pandemic literature in general and one of the plays that can be as a part of it which is David Hare’s Beat the Devil (2021) in particular Focusing mainly on several aspects, including the psychological aspect of the character, who performed a monologue alone in front of everyone, in order to communicate the situation. He reached as a result of the state’s failure to fully fulfill its duties, which opened the doors of the country to everyone and the entry of visitors without examining their bodies, which led to the spread of the pandemic in a manner fast. On the other hand, the fear that controls the character made him sick more and more, because most psychologists say that intense fear of something that did not happen may lead to its occurrence in a large proportion. Therefore, he contracted the pandemic and continued with his body, and he suffered suffering that everyone may feel about it. Because of its treatment of a pandemic that may be considered a deadly one that has harmed humanity, this play has received a wide global resonance. Despite some criticism that has been directed at the author of this play, but no one can deny that it has succeeded quickly around the world.