José Saramago's 'Blindness' Gains Relevance During COVID-19 Pandemic

José Saramago's 1995 novel 'Blindness' (original Portuguese title 'Ensaio sobre a Cegueira') has experienced renewed attention during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its thematic parallels with contemporary events. The Nobel Prize-winning author's work depicts a sudden epidemic of blindness that spreads through an unnamed population, exploring societal breakdown, government responses, and human behavior under crisis conditions. Critics note the novel's examination of authority during epidemics and collective psychological reactions resonates with current global situations. The book employs Saramago's distinctive literary style featuring minimal punctuation, extended paragraphs, and an omniscient third-person narrator. A film adaptation directed by Fernando Meirelles premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival starring Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. The article draws comparisons between Saramago's dystopian vision and other literary works including Albert Camus' 'The Plague,' William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies,' and Daniel Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe.' While not literally prophetic about specific pandemic details, the novel's exploration of institutional responses and human nature during crises has made it particularly relevant for contemporary readers. The Italian edition simplified the original title to avoid discouraging readers with the word 'essay.'