Evil-Spring 2012

Where is the evil in No Exit ?

The evil in "No Exit" comes from the relationships between the people. It is generated by their interactions and found in the torture and pain they inflict on one another.

Each perpetrates evil on the others, torturing them with words, making their lives a living hell

Evil is in the characters’ sadism.

Evil comes from the deliberate refusal to give others peace, when doing so has little or no negative impact on themselves. In hell, Garcin desires faith to validate his own life, yet Inez, the only other individual capable of providing this faith, deliberately refuses to give it to him ("you're a coward because I wish it" (44)). Estelle desires shallow love, yet Garcin denies her this. Inez desires power, yet Estelle denies her this. In life, Garcin's wife desires mutual love, but Garcin refuses to satisfy this desire. Estelle's lover desires the life of his child, but Estelle refuses to satisfy this desire. Inez's Florence desires a clean conscience, which Inez deliberately denies her.

"Other people suck; you suck too"

Agreed; back at you

Yeah, everything sucks. Especially when you're in hell

Each person's suckiness is amplified by others's suckiness.

"A triangle never works"

Thats a little unfair. It may not work perfectly, there may be some tension, but it can still work, some people do play well with others

^this.