telligence makes him question everything. Yet, his awareness also becomes his greatest burden.
Search for Meaning: Roquentin’s main struggle is to find meaning in life. He tries to discover it through his research on Rollebon. But he soon realizes that the past cannot give life purpose. He says,
“I no longer existed in myself, but in him; I ate for him, breathed for him.”
He understands that living through others is false. Sartre uses this to show Roquentin’s inner awakening. He learns that true meaning cannot come from history or from society—it must be self-created.
Sense of Isolation: Roquentin feels separated from other people. He cannot share his thoughts or emotions with them. He writes,
“I am alone in the midst of these happy, reasonable voices.”
His awareness isolates him from ordinary people who live without thinking deeply. He sees their happiness as blind and meaningless. This loneliness makes him both tragic and heroic. Sartre uses his isolation to show the cost of consciousness. To see the truth, one must stand apart from the crowd.
Vision of Existence: Roquentin’s greatest moment of realization comes under the chestnut tree. He suddenly understands the true nature of existence. He says,
“Existence... must invade you suddenly, master you, weigh heavily on your heart.”
He realizes that everything simply exists without purpose. This is both shocking and freeing. His vision of existence gives him deep insight into life. Sartre presents this moment as Roquentin’s philosophical awakening. He faces the truth of being and accepts it without illusion or fear.
Growth Toward Freedom: Ultimately, Roquentin becomes more peaceful and free. He listens to music and says,
“I felt my body harden and the Nausea vanish.”
He decides to write a novel to create meaning for himself. This decision marks his spiritual growth. He understands that freedom is painful but necessary. Through him, Sartre shows that man is free to shape his own life. Roquentin’s story ends not in despair but in quiet strength and self-knowledge.
To sum up, Antoine Roquentin is the living image of Sartre’s existential man. His loneliness, sensitivity, and search for meaning reflect every human being’s struggle. Through him, Sartre explores freedom, isolation, and awareness. Roquentin’s journey from confusion to understanding makes Nausea a study of the thinking self. He ends with acceptance and creative hope, showing that freedom gives life its true value.
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