Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980) was a towering intellectual figure of the 20th century—celebrated as a philosopher, playwright, novelist, political activist, and literary critic. Born in Paris, Sartre studied at the École Normale Supérieure, where he became deeply immersed in philosophy and literature. He is best known as the father of existentialism, a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom, responsibility, and the inherent absurdity of life.

As a playwright, Sartre used theatre as a powerful medium to dramatize his philosophical ideas. His most famous play, No Exit (Huis Clos, 1944), introduced the world to the phrase “Hell is other people,” as three characters trapped in a room confront their past actions and moral failures. Through his dramatic works, Sartre explored existential themes such as free will, bad faith, self-deception, and the consequences of personal choice in a world without absolute values.

In addition to No Exit, Sartre’s notable plays include The Flies (Les Mouches, 1943), a modern retelling of the Orestes myth, and Dirty Hands (Les Mains Sales, 1948), a political drama about the ethical dilemmas of revolutionary action. His plays are marked by intense psychological conflict and philosophical inquiry, often challenging audiences to reflect on their own beliefs and social responsibilities.

Sartre was also a prolific philosopher, with major works like Being and Nothingness (1943) and Existentialism Is a Humanism (1946), and he maintained a lifelong engagement with politics, particularly Marxism. He was a prominent public intellectual in post-war France and declined the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1964, stating that a writer should not allow himself to be turned into an institution.

Jean-Paul Sartre died in 1980, leaving behind a legacy that shaped modern philosophy, literature, and theatre. His existentialist plays remain widely studied and performed, not only for their dramatic power but for their enduring relevance to questions of freedom, morality, and the human condition. Sartre’s influence continues to be felt across disciplines, inspiring thinkers, writers, and artists around the world.