43 pages 1 hour read

Jean-Paul Sartre

Nausea

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1938

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Essay Topics

1.

Antoine’s opening words cast doubt on the legitimacy of thoughts recorded in a diary. Why does Sartre present Antoine’s story as a collection of diary entries? What might Sartre want to argue about the communication of experiences between individuals by using this narrative framing device?

2.

What is the connection between Bouville and Le Havre? Is Le Havre simple set-dressing for Nausea or is there a more substantial purpose in using it as a basis for Bouville? Research and connect Le Havre to the details about Bouville given throughout the novel. Pay particular attention to the socioeconomic layout of the city and its economy in relation to Bouville.

3.

How does time and the dating of diary entries function within Nausea? How might Antoine’s use of dating and marking his entries via time reflect his changing mental state and thoughts about the world?