Yet I Alive! Decision-Making during Pandemics in Daniel Defoe’s <i>A Journal of the Plague Year</i> ()

ABSTRACT This paper examines Daniel Defoe’s A Journal of the Plague Year through the lens of Herbert Simon’s decision-making theory, which outlines three sequential phases: intelligence, design, and choice. By applying this framework, we elucidate the cognitive challenges faced by the protagonist, H. F., as he confronts critical choices during the London plague. We argue that Defoe, though implicitly, structures H. F.’s decision-making process in accordance with Simon’s theory. Initially, H. F. engages in the “intelligence” phase by collecting data to understand the plague’s impact. Subsequently, he enters the “design” phase, evaluating potential actions based on this information. Finally, he executes the “choice” phase, committing to a course of action. This analysis reveals how individuals navigate uncertainty and limited information during crises. By demonstrating the relevance of Simon’s theory to Defoe’s narrative, this study provides a new interpretation of crisis-driven decision-making within the novel, enhancing our understanding of cognitive processes in literary contexts.”