Symbols/Symbolism:

• Nausea: The feeling of nausea is a symbol of Roquentin’s realization that life has no meaning. It shows his discomfort with existence.
• The Stone: When Roquentin picks up a stone and feels sick, the stone symbolizes how objects, and life itself, can feel meaningless and strange to him.
• The Sea: The sea represents the vast and empty nature of existence. Roquentin feels lost when he looks at the sea, just like he feels lost in life.
• The Diary: Roquentin’s diary symbolizes his attempt to understand his life and himself. It’s his way of trying to find meaning.
• The Portraits: The portraits in the museum represent people who lived with a sense of purpose, which makes Roquentin feel even more disconnected from his own life.

• Metaphor: Sartre uses metaphors, like "nausea," to explain Roquentin's deep feelings about life.
• Symbolism: Some things in the book, like the stone and the sea, stand for deeper ideas, like the emptiness of life.

Moral Lesson: 

• Create your own life's meaning.