Each of the characters in No Exit (excluding the valet) relies almost totally on other people to define themselves and their actions. The characters are all in hell for committing sins of some sort or another. Garcin was horrible to his wife, Inez was horrible to her cousin, and Estelle killed her child. However, they all share one existentialistic sin: defining themselves through others (Giggie).
The character who most obviously defines herself through others is Estelle. She is consumed with how she looks and what other people think of her. She needs other people or other things to remind her that she exists: “everything that goes on in one’s head is so vague isn’t it?” (19). For Estelle, the mind does not provide a concrete enough foundation for her define herself with. Instead she uses mirrors: “I always made sure there was one [a mirror] near by in which I could see myself… it kept me alert, seeing myself as others saw me” (19). Estelle can not run her life without seeing herself in the mirror, all day everyday she needs a reference point to know what she is doing, and what or who she is. Estelle has her chance at escape, at salvation when the door to the room opens. However, Estelle chooses not to leave, horrified of being alone because if she is alone, she will not be able to figure out who she is.
Inez is also tied to other people. She cannot function in her life without dominating and controlling every situation by hurting other people: “when I say I’m cruel, I mean I can’t get on without making people suffer” (26). Inez bases her existence on other people, without another person to control and torment, Inez is lost. When the door to the room opens Inez fights as hard as she can not be thrown out. She would have been free of her hell if she had left the room, but she could not bring herself to do it because without other people she would not be herself: “when I’m alone I flicker out” (26). She needs to define herself though who she hurts.
Garcin is exhibits this characteristic the least of all the characters. He does not necessarily define himself in terms of the others, however he cannot think for himself. Garcin needs other people to judge him, because he can not judge himself. When Garcin gets the door to the room to open, he refuses salvation because he needs to know whether or not he is a coward. He can not decide on his own, he needs to hear it from someone else, and the only person who can do that is in the room: “It’s because of her I’m staying here… you, anyhow, know what it means to be a coward” (42). Garcin defines himself based on what other people think. If someone else thinks he is a hero, then that is how he sees himself, but if someone else thinks he is a coward, then Garcin sees himself as a coward.
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2 comments:
I can see what you're saying about Inez but also look at the the quote she said about always being conscious of herself. That, to me, seems that she is at least a bit more self aware than the other two characters. Especially Estelle.
I agree with you Kasey! I think Inez doesn't leave because she is afraid. By calling Garcin a coward, she is seeing that in herself and accusing others of portaying that quality. She is more self conscious than we see at first glance.
Another interesting thing is your use of the word "consume". I also used that in my post before I saw yours. I think that's part of their hell: being consumed by things and devoting their energies towards things that don't matter in the end.
Very insightful!
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