“Hell Is Other People”─The Human Relations Revealed In Sartre's “No Exit”

• Main Authors: Kai-in Jeng, 鄭凱茵
• Other Authors: Professor Joseph C.Y. Yen
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2001
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/23022174982491565003

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 外國語文學系 === 89 === Abstract From 1940’s to 1950’s, the philosophy of Existentialism has the great impact upon the whole world. It is not only the philosophy, but also a kind of living style and attitude. The influence of Existentialism comes into the theater as well. As a spokesman of Existentialism, a philosopher, and a playwright, Sartre skillfully functions the three roles with plays. In his play, Sartre delivers his expectation toward man. “No Exit” has invited most discussions of all his plays. The setting of the play is placed in hell, and Sartre expresses his concept of the human relations by the three dead characters: Garcin, Inez, and Estelle. The human relation is the main issue of this play, and it is also the most intriguing one. The interdependence of the three characters indicates Sartre’s pessimistic viewpoint toward the human relation. However, due to these inalterable characters, Sartre brings forth his optimistic view on the power of human freedom to the audience. In Chapter One, I would like to briefly introduce the theater of Sartre. For Sartre, the purpose of the theater is to present a situation, in which, the most important of all, it encourages people to make choices in their own situations. This is the so-called “The Theater of Situations”. I will explore the kind of the human relation that Sartre tries to present in his “No Exit.” In Chapter Two, I will describe the background of Sartre in order to understand the formation of his pessimistic viewpoint toward the human relations. The philosophy of Sartrean Existentialism has its peculiar interpretation on this issue. On the assumption that the existence precedes essence, there are some other tenets like freedom, bad-faith, being-for-others, and look. The Sartrean Hell is the idea that combines those tenets. In Chapter Three, my focus will be placed on the human relations: Hell is Other People! I will discuss the human relations presented in this play from two aspects. One is the relation that Garcin, Inez, and Estelle have established before they died. The other is the intrigue of their interdependent relation in hell. That is the relation of torturer and tortured. Obviously, their relation in hell is a projection and prolongation of their relation on earth. In Conclusion, I will give a more personal interpretation about the messages that Sartre wants to offer to the readers in light of a more positive and optimistic view toward the human relations.