The Image of the "Other" in Huis Clos and Les Mouches by Jean-Paul Sartre

by Hassan Foroughi, Sara Mottaghi

Among all the notions of Sartre's existentialist philosophy, the "other" is a fundamental notion which, because of its permanent presence in Sartre's theater, especially in the two plays Huis clos and Les mouches, has a prominent place. This notion, given Sartre's interpretation of it as an embarrassing and disturbing apparition, caught our attention and led us to its analysis in this dissertation. In order to approach it, we have systematically followed all the steps of the scientific method: documentation, analysis of the bibliography by taking notes, analysis of the notes, elaboration of the plan, and finally, the composition of the work. We have thus demonstrated that the "other" in Sartre's theater, despite his hateful existence and his harmful influence, makes significant such conceptions as human existence, action, judgment and prejudice, commitment, freedom, responsibility and fate. All the dimensions of human life are turned upside down by the presence of the "other". And this obliges man to react and to revolt before this "other" of whom he has need.