Estelle vs. Inez
In No Exit by Jean-Paul Sarte the central theme is, “hell is other people”. In the play, three characters are introduced, who all have different back-stories as to why they are there. Two of the main characters are Estelle and Inez. Both are women who have committed horrendous crimes, but at the same time, could not be more different.
The first one to enter “hell” was Inez. Inez was a very angry woman, who hated men. Some people would describe her as negative, or pessimistic. She states to Credeau, “I’m not a polite person” (12). She had her theory as to why the three characters ended up together, and she voiced it confidently, “…I tell you, everything has been planned. Down to the last detail and with the greatest of care. This room was made for us. It was waiting for us” (18). In my opinion, she was just being realistic. She had a confidence about her that scared Estelle. She was sent to hell for poisoning her cousin’s wife, Florence’s, mind. So much so, the woman turned on her …show more content…
The first similarity is that they both hid their real selves in the beginning. They gave vague reasons for being sent to hell. Estelle stated, “…After that I had pneumonia. That’s all” (19). They both had their guard up. The second similarity is what sent them to hell, and that is their selfishness. They both made others suffer for their own fulfillment. Inez stated, “…I mean I need to see other people suffer to exist at all. A torch. A torch in their hearts. When I’m all alone I go out” (30). For her own selfish reasons she needed Florence to be with her, and only her. Estelle was simply the same. She had an affair and wound up pregnant. Instead of taking responsibility and becoming a mother, she killed her child, because that was not what she wanted. She did not take into account the effects her actions would have on the child’s father. Sadly, because of her selfishness, he killed
In No Exit by Jean-Paul Sarte the central theme is, “hell is other people”. In the play, three characters are introduced, who all have different back-stories as to why they are there. Two of the main characters are Estelle and Inez. Both are women who have committed horrendous crimes, but at the same time, could not be more different.
The first one to enter “hell” was Inez. Inez was a very angry woman, who hated men. Some people would describe her as negative, or pessimistic. She states to Credeau, “I’m not a polite person” (12). She had her theory as to why the three characters ended up together, and she voiced it confidently, “…I tell you, everything has been planned. Down to the last detail and with the greatest of care. This room was made for us. It was waiting for us” (18). In my opinion, she was just being realistic. She had a confidence about her that scared Estelle. She was sent to hell for poisoning her cousin’s wife, Florence’s, mind. So much so, the woman turned on her …show more content…
The first similarity is that they both hid their real selves in the beginning. They gave vague reasons for being sent to hell. Estelle stated, “…After that I had pneumonia. That’s all” (19). They both had their guard up. The second similarity is what sent them to hell, and that is their selfishness. They both made others suffer for their own fulfillment. Inez stated, “…I mean I need to see other people suffer to exist at all. A torch. A torch in their hearts. When I’m all alone I go out” (30). For her own selfish reasons she needed Florence to be with her, and only her. Estelle was simply the same. She had an affair and wound up pregnant. Instead of taking responsibility and becoming a mother, she killed her child, because that was not what she wanted. She did not take into account the effects her actions would have on the child’s father. Sadly, because of her selfishness, he killed