CHAPTER II...................................................................................................................... 8
3.1 The description and impact of the Calcutta plague in the novel Empty World
3.1.1 Explaining the Calcutta plague in detail
3.1.1.3 The Description and effects of the Calcutta virus
her husband’s departure with a death case from the Calcutta virus. This incident illustrates how painful it is to—left by a loved one, and all that is the impact of the uncontrolled spread of the plague.
Age is a determining factor in how strong a person’s immune system is. In general, people know that if the elderly will not survive if they are infected. Most of those who have great power can arbitrarily violate the government’s emergency policy and ultimately make the Calcutta plague more dangerous for everyone.
This condition is exacerbated by the increasing number of fatalities from the thirties age; in this case, it will significantly affect the economy due to the lack of skilled workers.
3.1.1.3 The Description and effects of the Calcutta virus
The most important thing here is knowing how the Calcutta virus process when it infects a person until many victims die from it. Before explaining it according to the quotes in the Empty World Novel, the writer wants to introduce what a virus is. Viruses are microbes that cannot live without attaching to their host. Viruses are also much smaller than bacteria. Every virus has genetic material, either RNA or DNA. When entering the body, the virus will attack healthy cells and take over the nutrients and oxygen.
Furthermore, the virus will begin to multiply until finally, the cell it is carrying dies. Not only damage healthy cells, in some cases, viruses can also turn normal cells into dangerous cells. ―Today they were dealing with cell structures,
and Mr. Dunhill moved on to a discussion of the ageing process.‖ (Christopher, 1977, p. 5)
The subject matter that taught by Mr. Dunhill today is the structure of the cell and then proceeds to discuss the aging process. Every lesson at Neil’s school emphasizes discussion because it will train every student to think and speak appropriately based on the references they learn. This explanation did not bore Neil because Biology is a subject that focuses on studying the various functions of living cells and types of living things, from the smallest to the largest. On earth, there are still many mysteries unknown to Modern Science, which makes Neil excited to take Biology lessons. ―There was some evidence, he pointed out, for believing that ageing was caused by the increasing inability of cells to remember the functions laid down for them in the genetic blueprint, a sort of cellular amnesia.‖ (Christopher, 1977, p. 5)
Mr. Dunhill teaches that aging is caused by the inability of cells to remember the functions assigned to them in the genetic blueprint. The simple explanation of this is an increase in cell damage; Neil learns something exciting and new. The lesson happens to be, in fact, and has become a threat to the region around India that the virus can kill slowly. Simply put, if someone experiences unnatural wrinkles at the age, he should not be. It means that it has been confirmed that that person has contracted the Calcutta virus.
―You'll remember there were two phases of the disease," Mr. Dunhill said.
"Initially there was a fever, followed by recovery and a symptomless period varying between ten days and three weeks. That was followed by a general
deterioration of bodily functions, leading to collapse and death. (Christopher, 1977, p. 6)
Everyone who is infected with a disease or virus will experience a high fever.
This condition has become a familiar sign because the immune system of every living thing works to fight a disease or virus. In the case of the Calcutta plague, there are several characteristics that we can understand if someone has contracted this plague. First, fever but no visible symptoms, but after ten days or three weeks, the body will experience a general decline in body functions resulting in death.
Mr. Explanation Dunhill is a picture of what has happened to people who died from the virus and is a fear in itself for people who worry that they will end up like that. "The striking thing was that the second phase strongly resembled an accelerated ageing process. (Christopher, 1977, p. 6)
Mr. Dunhill shows his students the similarities of the second phase to the earlier discussion of the aging process. The second phase sign that people have contracted the Calcutta plague is an accelerated aging process. The patient will not feel pain when he is infected with the Calcutta virus, which is very dangerous.
Because it can make people think it is okay to go to another area to save themselves from the plague. ―It’s a tenable explanation,‖ Mr. Dunhill went on, that the Calcutta virus attacked the individual cells in such a way as to inhibit or destroy that memory function we have been talking about.‖ (Christopher, 1977, p.
7)
Currently, Mr. Dunhill wants his class discussion to remain conducive and focus on the discussion he brought today. There was panic from some students
after hearing an explanation about the Calcutta plague. Mr. Dunhill repeated his remarks at the beginning of the discussion. If the Calcutta virus is a virus that attacks individual cells to destroy memory functions that make infected people experience premature aging. This plague makes the people's mentality down because since the plague has infected the people of London, they think as if the angel of death is ready to take their lives at any time.
On Monday morning his appearance was shocking. He looked ten years older at least, and they saw his hands tremble when he went to write on the blackboard. The writing was scrawled and wavering. During class the Headmaster came in and spoke to him. Their voices were low, but it was obvious that the Headmaster was urging something, Mr. Dunhill refusing.
(Christopher, 1977, p. 19)
The plague will undoubtedly attack the elderly because it is not surprising that the principal and other teachers are very afraid of being infected. When Mr.
Dunhill started teaching, his students saw a noticeable change in Mr. Dunhill. He had the Calcutta plague, making him look ten years older. The principal's arrival to see Mr. Dunhill was, of course, due to the Calcutta plague. The principal tried to tell Mr. Dunhill that he should not come to school again and indirectly told Mr.
Dunhill to die peacefully at home. It lasted another two days, during which he continually deteriorated. His skin wrinkled, his voice became more reed-like, his movements tottery and uncertain. (Christopher, 1977, p. 20)
The change after two days due to the Calcutta plague made Mr. Dunhill look different and age faster, as he had described in one of his lessons. The incident that Mr. Dunhill is currently suffering from is an example of the Calcutta virus
being so dangerous and makes the sufferer feel his old days. This effect was the beginning of the extinction of the elderly in London.
―The reason the hair proper, while thinner, is still no more than tinged with grey, is simply that human hair grows at a slower rate than that of the cellular deterioration caused by the Calcutta virus.‖He paused, as though speech were becoming wearisome. (Christopher, 1977, p. 20)
Mr. Dunhill's explanation of aging is the process by which cellular damage changes faster than hair growth. Calcutta virus has a short process and causes the sufferer to die quickly. Mr. Dunhill, who is experiencing premature aging, makes him tired as quickly as older people feel in general. However, the difference is that he will soon meet his death in the next few days due to being infected with a virus.