The White Disease

Summary

«The White Disease» is a dystopian play by Karel Čapek, written in 1937. The plot centers around an epidemic of a deadly illness known as the «white disease», which affects people over the age of
1.The disease causes white spots on the skin and inevitably leads to death. The main character, Dr. Galen, discovers a cure for this disease but refuses to give it to the government, demanding an end to all wars first. Meanwhile, a militaristic dictatorship led by the Marshal, who seeks world domination, is gaining strength in the country. The conflict between humanism and militarism reaches a climax when Dr. Galen tries to deliver his cure to the people but is killed in a crowd before he can share the formula. The play raises important questions about morality, responsibility, and human greed.