Jean-Paul Sartre was born in Paris France in 1905 and was brought up in his mother’s family. He was educated by his mother who maintained a library of books necessary for his studies. He studied philosophy and taught at Le Havre. He took keen interest in anything that took place around him and this is what inspired him to write the book. He keeps a dairy and records details of what takes place daily even though such details may not mean anything to him. For example, he observes his bottle of ink cardboard and states that it is rectangular I shape, it opens. This, according to him, is nauseating. Another nauseating thing to him is the fact that children are playing even though he thinks of throwing a stone at them. The act of throwing the stone at the children is nauseating. This feeling leaves him after keenly observing the children playing peacefully. Another thing that disgusts him is the sight of the statue.
The meeting with the lady who works for Railwaymen’s Rendezvous is another incident that nauseates the writer. They both derive pleasure with mutual benefits but her conversation in a way doesn’t please him at all, although he doesn’t pay him for the services. Loneliness is another thing that nauseates him. He admires people talking, laughing and happily exchanging pleasantries and this makes him uncomfortable. This is because he doesn’t have one to chat with. He is also nauseated at the sight of a glass of beer. Although he doesn’t want to see the glass, he still finds himself staring at it. After writing ten pages of his work, he realizes that he has not said the whole truth and this also nauseates him. What brings
Roquentin has a unique interaction technique with other characters. First, he freely interacts with female characters more than their male counterparts. He is also interested in ladies who seem to have interest in relationship like Anny. Although Anny leaves him for London, he still has hopes of seeing her one day even if it is in ten years time. In the absence of female friends, Roquentin feels lonely and envies the men who get along well at social places, freely chatting and laughing. He enjoys the company of female friends with whom he has intimate relationships. For example, his conversation with Anny shows a free and sociable man. Anny even goes ahead to write him a letter showing just how emotion attached the two are. In the letter, Anny refers to him as dear, an issue that fascinates him a lot. However, they broke up with Anny claiming that Roquentin is insensitive to her feelings. She even says that she is travelling to London. It is however unclear whether this is the case or a tactic for breaking up with Roquentin.
When Roquentin meets Anny, they chat to each other uncomfortably with Anny claiming that she is waiting for someone. It is evident that Anny no longer feels any affection for him and she is already set for the journey. It later appeared that this was just an excuse to leave Roquentin. This is different from his interaction with Francoise. First, Francoise is open with him. She even pays for the room where they spend a few hours together. They even end up spending together, a thing which Anny did not tolerate. But this interaction was so casual that we can deduce that there is no intimate relationship between them. Unlike interaction with Francoise, Roquentin’s relationship with Anny is passionate, intimate and free. They share a lot of issues in their lives without hiding their feelings.
Work Cited
Sartre, J.-P.. Nausea. London: New Directions Publishing. (2007.)
Warburton, N.. Philosophy: The Basics. U.S.A: Routledge. (2004)
