No Exit IOP Presentation
- 1. Individual Oral Presentation: “Hell is the Discovery of One’s True Identity” Manisha Palla January 21, 2010
- 2. Characters Garcin - attempted to desert during the war, continually tries to make peace with himself, does not question his damnation Inez - a self-described "damned bitch,“ (Lesbian), very hostile, hates men and instantly detests Garcin, attracted to Estelle Estelle - superficial, seductive, and selfish, longs for Garcin’s attention, frightened by Inez
- 3. The Hell of Humanity
- 4. Thesis Throughout his play, “No Exit”, Jean-Paul Sartre employs symbolism and character development to espouse the idea that “hell is the discovery of one’s true identity”.
- 5. Inez and Estelle Estelle: No, I can’t do without a looking glass for ever and ever. I simply can’t. Estelle: Oh, I don’t know. You scare me rather. My reflection in the glass never did that. Inez: Suppose I try to be your glass? Inez: I’m your lark - mirror, my dear, and you can’t escape me…
- 6. Mystery of Identity Absence of an image denotes the absence of identity and ultimately existence Mirror » Symbolism Search for identity and self-image If you don’t know what you look like, how can you be sure you are not someone else?
- 7. Estelle and Garcin Estelle: Don’t turn away. You’re a man, aren’t you, and surely I’m not such a fright as all that! Estelle: Not any man. You. Garcin: So, it a man you need? Garcin: No humbug now. Any man would do your business. As I happen to be here, you want me. Right!
- 8. False Identity Although Garcin, Inez and Estelle try to hide their true nature from each other, each character is able to see the other for who he or she truly is. By living a life that wasn't meant to be lived by her, Estelle has managed to completely falsify her identity.
- 9. Garcin and Inez Garcin: You know what it means to be a coward. Garcin: And you know what wickedness is, and shame, and fear. Inez: Yes, I know. Inez: Yes. Garcin: So it’s you whom I have to convince; you are of my kind.
- 10. Identity Determined by Others Individual vs. Object A man for himself vs. a man for others People see themselves through others. They are defined by what others think of them.
- 11. Conclusion Through the use of symbolism and character development, Jean-Paul Sartre espouses the idea that “hell is the discovery of one’s true identity”. When identity breaks down and one face becomes indistinguishable from another, the "other" dissolves; hell is then, by necessity, oneself.