No Exit Book Response

There are many figurative elements to No Exit that are interpretted and perceived as existentialist throughout the play. The constant reference to eyes and the "gaze" of the other characters in the novel describes how it affects one's freedom and interraction with society. The constant search for mirrors is conveyed as an escape plot from avoiding the judging gaze of one another. However, this is what the characters in the play recognize later in the play, this is Hell's plan, the inevitable judgement and torture the characters display upon one another. The continuous toying with one's emotions and the erroneous lies that consume the characters inside the room is the mental torture in which they can never escape.
The constant glare of the Valet also emphasizes the Nazi movement in Paris in the mid 1940s. The Nazis would suppress their victims and cause them unexplicable torture and pain, similar to the Valet in keeping Garcin, Inez, and Estelle locked in a room only to consume their inner thoughts and feelings, never to escape their fate. The lack of sleep and inability to close his eyes, is interpretted by Garcin, "No eyelids, no sleep; it follows, doesn't it? I shall never sleep agian. But then-how shall I endure my own company?" (6). The symbolance of lack of eyelids and sleep also portrays the inability to escape fear, as one usually closes their eyes to avoid the sight of what they fear most.
The scene in which the characters attempt to escape from the room is represented by their fear and anxiety of responsibility is resulted in bad faith. Garcin is unable to leave the room when the door opens because he can't handle the responsibility of confronting his decision to flee his country and leaves it to Inez to define his essence over his existence. In a similar instance, Estelle does cannot be upheld for her actions because she denies she exists due to the lack of the mirrors, she cannot see herself as others do. The scene in which Inez acts as Estelle's mirror causes Estelle to believe Inez's judgements of her essence. Inez tells Estelle, "There isn't any pimple, not a trace of one. So what about it? Suppose the mirror started telling lies?" (21). The lies and Inez portray Estelle and Garcin as symbols of bad faith and reluctancy to condemn their freedom.
The paper knife exemplifies the neverending despair and grievance of eternal life in Hell. Inez strongly proclaims, "Dead! Dead! Dead! Knives, poision, ropes-all useless. It has happened already, do you understand? Once and for all. So here we are forever" (46). There is no death because they are already in the afterlife, therefore what many think that death is a last resort for escape is not an option in Hell. In saying this, Inez is the only one who asserts her freedom and chooses her essence in the present, and she is able to confront her responsibility and suffering in conveying her existence. Inez is the only character in the play to truly portray Sartre's theory of existentialism, unlike Garcin and Estelle whom are extremely materialistic and allow society to convey their thoughts and perceptions.