Nausea – Jean-Paul Sartre

Nausea is presented as the diary of Antoine Roquentin, a solitary historian who begins to experience a deep existential crisis while living in a quiet French town. At first, he notices a strange discomfort when interacting with everyday objects, but this feeling grows into an overwhelming sense of "nausea"—a reaction to the realization that existence itself is random, unnecessary, and without inherent meaning. As Roquentin reflects on his life, he becomes increasingly detached from society. Conversations, routines, and relationships feel artificial, and he sees others as unaware of the absurd nature of existence. His work as a historian loses purpose, as he recognizes that history imposes order on events that are inherently chaotic. Through encounters with figures like the optimistic Self-Taught Man and his former lover Anny, Roquentin sees how people construct meaning to avoid confronting the emptiness beneath life. These illusions, however, cannot withstand his growing awareness of reality's contingency. In a key moment, Roquentin realizes that objects and existence simply "are," without reason or necessity. This insight reflects Sartre's existential philosophy: humans are not born with purpose but must create meaning through their own choices. Although this realization initially leads to despair, Roquentin begins to see a possibility in art and creation. By choosing to write, he considers shaping meaning rather than searching for it. The novel explores themes of existentialism, absurdity, freedom, alienation, and the creation of meaning, suggesting that while life lacks inherent purpose, individuals have the freedom—and responsibility—to define their own existence.