“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