What does it mean to say Hell is the other people?
By ubermensch
@ubermensch (136)
Philippines
September 14, 2010 10:08am CST
I have read about one of the plays written by a French Nobel Laureate named Jean Paul Sartre entitled No Exit. From that play, there are three characters in a certain small room with no windows to look around. Each of them are just stealing some glances and gazes to each other. Then, they engaged in conversation. All of them realized that they were already dead and they are put in a certain place. They examine to each other what were their lives before and how were they killed? The one was killed because he was in a war a journalist. The other was killed because she was caught having a relationship other than her husband. The last, her life was spent in liking a women.
Later, on they do not agree with each other and some disputes were not settled. It was then when one of them said that Hell is the Other people.
1 response
@asyria51 (2861)
• United States
14 Sep 10
I remember reading No Exit. We read it in a morality class. We talked about how no two people are truly compatible to the point of being able to spend the rest of eternity with them. That people will always find fault, even in a saint. That being cooped up with them is an agonizing hell, because that fault will become the only thing we notice about them.
@ubermensch (136)
• Philippines
14 Sep 10
It's true. Sartre also wanted to emphasize here that the concept of Hell is no longer the concept by which Dante's inferno described. Hell is for him is in the human relation. So, hell proves to be a surprising place, for there are no instruments of torture. None are needed. Men themselves torture each other because the mere the existence of other people already hinders man to create a project, which is a project of making oneself. The look of the Other reduces and destroys man's whole being. Garcin in the play is indeed right in saying that "Hell is the other people.
Sartre's understanding of fundamental relation between the I and the Other would probably result in some people doing evil things and would only leave man hopeless. But this is not what Sartre intended. He does not intend man to lead man into despair. He simply reveals the authentic condition of a human being amidst other individuals in order for man to be concerned of his own existence and to value his freedom.
