Some end of year inspiration

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existential exit

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No Exit explores the extreme effects of allowing yourself to be defined by others. To an existentialist, this is the worst “sin” one can commit, an act of “bad faith.” How does the play, through characters and symbols/motifs alike, make this evident? Do you agree with the logic behind the argument? How do you act like a being-in or for-itself?

A noticeable theme in No Exit is mirrors and reflections. Estelle asks," Excuse me, have you a glass?" to everyone (18). Then when it is discovered there are no mirrors she nearly faints; "I feel so queer . Don't you ever get taken that way? When I can't see myself i begin to wonder if i really and truly exist. I pat myself to make sure, but it doesn't help much"(19). This is the existential delemia, do i exist if nothing or no one will affirm that i do. Hell Purposely has no mirrors so the inmates question their own exsistance. Worse still is when Estelle lets Inez be her mirror. She is directly letting others define her. Its a very dangerous thing to have someone reflect you. Inez insists, "Now ask me questions. I'll be as candid as any looking-glass" (20).

Garcin has the same problem as Estelle except he doesn't need a physical mirror. He purely defines himself by what others say and believe about him. When his coworkers think he is a coward. He becomes a coward. If one person believes him a hero, he is a hero. He begs, “One person's faith would save me. Will you have faith in me?” (39).

it is no wonder both are hesitant to tell the others what they are guilty of. As soon as the others pass judgment on them, that is what they become.

Sartre <3

Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was born 1905. He studied both in Germany and Paris, then taught philosophy during the 1930s at La Havre and Paris. He became interested in philosophy while 'mountaineering' (I am guessing that is something like hiking) in Canada when he was introduced to Henri Bergson's Essay on the Immediate Data of Consciousness. In 1929 he met Simone de Beauvior another scholar who he would have a lifelong companionship with. Together they discussed existentialist ideas which led to his work Existentialism is Humanism in 1946.

In 1939 Sartre was drafted into the army as a meteorologist. He was captured by German troops in 1940 and spend 9 months as a prisoner of war. he was released in 1941 and resumed a teaching position.

He wrote his philosophical ideas in forms of plays such as No Exit, Being and Nothingness, and The Flies because they were not censored by the Germans and were published many literary magazines.

When the war ended Sartre established Modern Times, a monthly literary and political review, and started writing full-time as well as continuing his political activism.

Sartre was very politically active. He called himself communist, but never actually joined the communist party. He took a dominate role in opposing the French rule in Algeria , exposing war crimes in a literary magazine. In the fifties Sartre went to Cuba to meet Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.

No Exit combined response

Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit comments on human nature. The character's flaws are they're own to torchure devices was well as reason for being in hell. The characters are so wicked and proud they themselves fail to recognise they're own reason for being in hell. Estelle claims, "I haven't a notion, not the foggiest. In fact, I'm wondering if there hasn't been some ghastly mistake"(15). Inez is the only character to amitt they are in hell on their own account; "Yes, we are criminals- murderers-all three of us. We're in hell, my pets; they never make mistakes, and people aren't damned for nothing"(16).

The characters prove their selfish whims and disregard for others as the play goes on. Inez tries to manipulate Estelle. Estelle spits in Inez's face. Garcin and Estelle disrespectfully have sex in front of Inez. Inez calls Garcin a coward. All the while they characters are obsessed with flashes of visions from earth. They act possesively about things they have left behind. Inez angry yells at people in her room; "But thats my room, my room! Pitch-dark now"(29). Estelle act's similarly saying, "Peter dear, think of me, fix your thoughts on me, save me"(32). Garcin sees his coworkers talking ill of him; "They're thinking 'Garcin's a coward"(38).

Much like Kafka's Metamorphosis, Sartre uses both realistic and unrealistic elements in his story. This is a very good technique because it is easy to relate to the characters, but also the reader can distance them self from the harsh critic of human nature.

hell-o dolly

Alright, as a side note i'd like to say its a little revealing that there is a time stamp on all of these.

Hell to me

To me the archetypal hell, a burning eternal wasteland, does not makes any logical sense. I'm sure any painful situation felt on earth is worse then eternal physical pain in hell. I cannot imagine your sensation of pain would not dull after all eternity. I'm pretty sure unrequited love, grief or discrimination are all emotions worse than physical pain. If hell really a fiery wasteland I cannot see human relationships forming so all of those emotions would not be felt. Basically what I am saying is that either hell isn't that bad, or theres hell on earth everyday.

Blog-a-licious

Hey humanities class! First of all i think this blog thing is the cutest idea ever, its like a cyber manifestation of how close of a class we are. So i have inferred from reading all of your first entries that they may/must include a. facts about yourself b. shameless sucking up to Ms. Giggie/the English language in general c. a blatant lie to make yourself sound cool d. super cute should outs e. a favorite quote.

Hi there this is Lucy. I enjoy talking to people and social things in general. I love ultimate frizbee, even though it crippled me. I'm really into art, painting photo and fashion design mostly. I plan on going to art school next year. Basically English is my religion and Giggie is my rabbi.

You may not know this about me, but i make a cameo in Disney's Zenon the Zequal. I know it sucks compared to the first one but I am in the background for 3.4 seconds.

word to my humanities dawgs, maybe i'll figure out how to add you to that link list on the side of the blog

" Fax mentis incedium gloriae"