Many people, overcome by depression, isolated themselves in their homes. Others mocked death, choosing to sing, drink and dance in the streets. Apathy followed shock. With so many dead, plague survivors lost interest in their appearance and neglected doing daily chores such as feeding their animals or tilling the land.
The plague had an important effect on the relationship between the lords who owned much of the land in Europe and the peasants who worked for the lords. As people died, it became harder and harder to find people to plow fields, harvest crops, and produce other goods and services. Peasants began to demand higher wages.