Literary Analysis EC: No Exit

1. In No Exit three people are trapped in a room with no way out. This room is considered hell to these inviduals because of the sins they have commited in the while they were alive. They hope for the others to define who they are and becoming in a sense their “mirrors”. They all eventually all become annoyed with another yet none of them have the courage to walk out the door. They end up stuck in hell never being able to get out.
2. The theme is when we lose faith in ourselves we succumb to what other people think of us and that is what we believe defines us.
3. The author's tone to me seems very casual. This is mainly due to the fact it is told in dialogue form. These complete strangers all of a sudden have a conversation and when you have a conversation with a stranger it's mostly casual.
4. Symbolism is used to show what makes this place hell. The “mirror” represents the obsession we humans have with what people think of us and how it effects us. Extended metaphor is used to show that hell can come in multiple forms. It can be the people in our daily lives or the guilt we live with and the lack of confidence we have in ourselves making us find confidence through others. Dialogue is used to show the reader what exactly makes this place hell. It allows for the characters to show who they really are and the reader to observe and judge. Flashbacks are used to show each characters past and what they did. Situational irony is slightly used in that you didn't expect Garcen to stay in the room even though he could actually leave but is bound by doubt. Tone is used to set the mood of the play. At times the mood is easy going and at other times it get intense due to jealousy.

Charterization

1. This play uses strictly only indirect characterization. Since the characters don't know what they look like and the reader only knows what the character knows there is no description of each character's physical traits. Indirect characterization is what mainly defines each character. Through each character's reaction to one another you are able to figure out the type of person they are. Also through the telling of their past lives you are also able to find out a little more about the type of person they are. Also the fact that Garcen does not exit the room shows he lacks confidence.
2. The diction changes when Estelle talks to Garcin and when Inez talks to Estelle because they're trying to become close with them. If they're not talking to those people they become hostile.
3. Garcen is a static character because he was a coward before and still is. He still doubts himself and isn't able to come to peace with the choices he made. Garcin is also a flat character in that he solely is someone who lacks courage.
4. I felt like I met an actual person because the play got to me on a very personal level. When I was able to find out about each character's past I felt like I knew them and who they are. It influenced what I thought about them and If I liked them or not.