Nausea
Sartre’s ‘Nausea’ explores the existentialist philosophy through a historian’s introspective diary.
Summary of 5 Key Points
Key Points
- Existentialist Philosophy
- Antoine Roquentin’s Isolation
- The Absurdity of Existence
- The Concept of ‘Nausea’
- Search for Meaning
key point 1 of 5
Existentialist Philosophy
Existentialist philosophy, as portrayed in ‘Nausea’, revolves around the idea of existence preceding essence. The main character, Antoine Roquentin, epitomizes this philosophy as he grapples with an overwhelming feeling of disgust and repulsion toward his own existence and the world around him. His existential crisis symbolizes the human condition, where a person is thrown into an absurd universe without purpose or meaning, left to define his own essence…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 5
Antoine Roquentin’s Isolation
Antoine Roquentin, the protagonist, is a man profoundly disconnected from the world around him. He is a stranger in a society where everyone else seems to belong. He doesn’t have any friends or family, and his only companion is his own mind. His isolation is not only physical, but also emotional and existential. He is unable to connect with others on a deep and meaningful level, which intensifies his feelings of loneliness and alienation…Read&Listen More
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The Absurdity of Existence
The Absurdity of Existence, as presented, is the realization that life is fundamentally meaningless and devoid of any inherent purpose. The protagonist grapples with a pervasive sense of disorientation and confusion in the face of an apparently meaningless or absurd world. He finds himself existing in a world devoid of reason, hence the term ‘nausea’. He experiences this ‘nausea’ as he becomes hyper-aware of his own existence, of objects around him, seeing them in their raw, unfiltered states, stripped of any imposed meaning or purpose…Read&Listen More
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The Concept of ‘Nausea’
The concept of ‘Nausea’ as depicted in the philosophical novel represents a profound, existential discomfort and the recognition of the absurdity of existence. The protagonist, Antoine Roquentin, experiences episodes of intense psychological distress, which he identifies as ‘Nausea.’ These episodes are characterized by an acute awareness of and inability to escape the superfluous existence of objects around him and his own superfluous existence…Read&Listen More
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Search for Meaning
In the novel, the protagonist, Antoine Roquentin, embarks on an existential journey to understand the purpose of his existence. He is a historian living in a small French town, Bouville, who finds himself gripped with a sense of unease and ‘nausea’ whenever he contemplates about his life. He feels everything in his life is meaningless and absurd. This sense of ‘nausea’ is actually his response to the realization of his existence being purposeless…Read&Listen More