Jean Paul Sartre No Exit Essay

Self-Absorption and Eternal Punishment Jean Paul Sartre’s one-act theatrical work No Exit tells the story of three souls in Hell, and of the courses in life taken that led to their never-ending anguish. The souls are introduced as follows: Cradeau was a journalist who declared his fervent desire for peace, Estelle was a Parisian socialite who holds great import for beauty and luxury; and Inez is a serious woman who had gotten her way for her entire life. Sartre illustrates the scene of Hell as a small drawing room, constructed with brick walls, that is without any means of escape. The temperature of the room is rather hot, as to be expected, and the room itself is sparsely furnished. A major emphasis is placed on the lack of reflective surfaces to be found in the room, and very quickly a mirror is sought after by the characters. The symbolism of the mirror in the story conveys the self-absorbed nature of each of

Narcissism is a personality disorder that establishes a false sense of superiority in the individual afflicted. People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder are typically unable to identify their negative actions and have a tendency to justify their misdeeds without remorse. This pattern of behavior can be recognized with Estelle’s dismissal of the suicide of her lover and the murder she commited of her child. Holding herself upon such a high pedestal made Estelle immune to any repercussions that might result from her wrongdoings. A narcissistic personality is exhibited in Estelle’s character when she says “how empty it is, a mirror, if [she] can’t see [herself]” (23). The character of Estelle literally personifies human tendency toward self-absorption and material desire. Her need for a mirror illustrates man’s need for reassurance in one’s abilities or socially-admired qualities, as these determine one’s value as a