Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit and Existentialis

981 Words2 Pages

No Exit and Existentialis Jean-Paul Sartre's portrayal of Hell in No Exit is fueled with dramatic irony, implemented in order to amuse the reader. Sartre's illustration of Hades is very psychological, and instead of Satan agonizing you, three roommates take to the task. They each in turn irritate and aggravate one another, thus making themselves hysterical, and thus producing dramatic irony. In addition to a door that will not open, and living in a windowless room, all three characters possess no eyelids, and thus are unable to sleep. For relief, they conspire with one or the other, but that merely plunges them further into the inevitable distress of Hell. Throughout the play, the dramatic irony that occurs between Inez, Estelle, and Garcin enriches the meaning and effect of the play in a postive form, despite the psychological plot evokes a disturbing, aggravating scenario-- which is in accordance to the typical view of Hell. This eerie play is successful in creating a positive perspective to the existentialism philosophy, and in addition stirs up a scenario in which readers learn from such provocative characters. Moreover, it is weighty to realize that the lessons of existentialism-- such as the role of personal responsibility, the bleak position of mankind in the universe, and the fact that being stuck with boorish people is the worst punishment ever conceived-- are no longer revelations. What was avant-garde a half-century ago has since been digested and regurgitated by the mainstream. The existential theme of the play may be pass to modern society, that one may not learn, or even so much as benefit from it. Firstly, Sartre's strong association with the existentialism philosophy is exemplified in No Exit. It is a portrayal that life in Hell is just the same as life on Earth, perhaps the only difference being that their travesties are magnified. As the lives of Inez, Estelle, and Garcin continue in Hell, their main torment is the one thing that they were never able to achieve on Earth. So due to the consequences of their actions, they eternally suffer in Hell. This presents a contrasting view to one tenet of existentialism, something which Sartre was heavily affiliated with. If there were no ill consequences, on what grounds would people be sent to Hell? Or Heaven for that matter? This new view brings to light the absurdity of life. What did Garcin do in order to be sent to Hell for all eternity? He was just a coward who claimed to be a Pacifist.

Open Document