Discuss the theme of time and free will as depicted in Nausea Jean-Paul Sartre in his novel Nausea presents the themes of time and free will as parts of human existence Through Antoine Roquentin s thoughts and experiences Sartre shows how time feels empty and how man must use free will to create meaning These ideas are central to Sartre s philosophy of existentialism Time as Burden Roquentin feels that time has lost its natural flow He feels trapped in endless moments that do not connect His diary shows his struggle to find continuity He realizes that the past and future have no real value He says Nothing Existed This shows that each moment stands alone heavy and meaningless Time for him is not a guide but a burden that reminds him of his lonely existence Freedom and Choice Sartre shows that Roquentin s freedom is both gift and curse