No Exit Symbolism

Forced into hell for the rest of eternity, Estelle struggles with staying calm while trying to cope with not having the things that make her feel like herself, depicted in “No Exit” by Jean Paul Sartre. Throughout the play, mirrors are stated frequently in hopes that Estelle may find one and become confident once more. Although Estelle believes throughout her life on earth that she is perfect in every way possible and that men can not help but lust over her, once she reaches hell without a mirror, her true monstrous self shines through, especially when no remorse is seen or felt about killing her own child. Through symbolism, the narrator uses mirrors to help show how powerful, everyday habits may affect people negatively without notice being taken.
Estelle

Showing how she must see herself to feel comfortable, this symbolizes how she is not confident with how she is seen, unless she can see herself and that she does not believe herself to be real unless she is being noticed by a man or if she can see herself.. This is surprising to hear because immediately when she enters hell she places herself higher than Inez and Cradeau which shows that she wants to be on top but feels the need to find confirmation of herself by looking at herself and not seeing who she is on the inside. Inez goes on to ask, “wouldn’t you like me to be your mirror?” but Estelle is wary about taking up the offer because she does not feel the need to have Inez, a woman, look at her but she wants Cradeau, the only man in the room, to see and appreciate her beauty (23). This symbolizes through the use of a mirror that Estelle also finds confirmation in how men see her and she does not find the need to have a woman look at her and call her beautiful. This may