“Nausea” is a Study of An Individual Trying to Understand His Relationship with the Phenomena Around Him. Discuss. 

Answer

“Nausea” is a study of an individual trying to understand his relationship with the phenomena around him. Discuss. 

“Nausea” is an existential novel written by Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-80), published in 1938. The novel is written in the form of a diary and explores the philosophical themes of existentialism. Existentialism is the search for meaning in life. The protagonist of the novel, Antoine Roquentin, experiences a profound sense of nausea and disgust toward his existence and the world around him.

Existentialism: The novel is often considered one of the most important works of existentialist literature. Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom and choice, as well as the subjective experience of existence. Roquentin’s experience of nausea is an existential crisis in which he questions the meaning and purpose of his existence. He says,

Existence … must invade you suddenly, master you, weigh heavily on your heart.

The Absurdity of Existence: The novel explores the idea that existence is fundamentally absurd and that human beings are trapped in a meaningless and chaotic world. Roquentin experiences a sense of alienation and detachment from the world around him as he realizes that the objects and people he encounters have no inherent meaning. Roquentin is in Café Mably, where “everything is always normal in cafés, especially Café Mably.” However, things are not normal for him. Roquentin is alone in perceiving this as something else that is almost nothing. He states,

I am alone in the midst of these happy, reasonable voices.

The Search for Authenticity: Roquentin is searching for an authentic way of living in the world. He wants to lead a life that is not based on illusions or false beliefs. He is dissatisfied with the roles and identities that society imposes on him. He is searching for a way to live that is true to his own nature. Roquentin has just been listening to his favorite song, a ragtime version of “Some of These Days.” Apparently, he accidentally discovers an antidote to the Nausea, although he doesn’t use it this way in the rest of the novel. Listening to the song relieves his experience of the Nausea.

I felt my body harden and the Nausea vanish.

The Illusion of Time: The novel explores the idea that time is an illusion and that the past, present, and future are all equally real. Roquentin’s experience of nausea is related to his sense of timelessness. He feels disconnected from the past and future and is unable to find meaning in the present moment.  

The Objectification of Others: Roquentin is critical of the way that human beings objectify and dehumanize one another. He sees the people around him as mere objects devoid of inner life or subjectivity. This leads to his sense of nausea, as he feels that he himself is becoming an object in the eyes of others. The novel ultimately rejects the idea of objective truth or morality. It asserts that all meaning and value are subjective and relative. Here, Roquentin says, 

Existence precedes essence.

“Nausea” is a novel that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence, including the meaning of life, the nature of reality, and the search for authenticity. It is a powerful work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today and remains an important contribution to the philosophy of existentialism.