Hell

Sartre, in penning the famous expression

‘Hell is other people’

Was wrong.

It most assuredly

Resides within us.

 

 

 

1 Dec, 2015

Reviews

[Belle]

I think this is one of the misunderstood lines from Sartre's many philosophical arguments.
The original text's, as I know it, nearest Englsih translation is " Hell is the other",
and not the popularized : " Hell is other people"...but whatever is lost in the translation,(as there is no exact translation that can be found in any language from other language) we have to consider that the line is found in a single-act drama " No Exit". The character, not Sartre, speaks the words, and it is only used to establish a fundamental principle in philosophy...Sartre is an existentialist, after all.


It is good that I found your page, Zeitnot. I really love verses that open a room for intellectual conversation.

[Zugzwang]

Yes, my poem involves a blithe misinterpretation of Sartre. I actually checked it out on online and got the same result you did. But I want ahead with it anyway, as I liked the sentiment of the poem. In interpreting Sartre accurately, the poem has no basis, as apparently the self and the other are jointly responsible for the creation of the 'hell' he describes.
But I went ahead and posted the piece anyway. Why not? Poetic license and all that.

[Belle]

It only happened that Sartre is one of the people I associate myself with. I have books written by him on my shelf.

[Belle]

You may want to consider also " The Flies" this play explains well of his philosophy than that of the " No Exit"

[Zugzwang]

I will put it on my reading list!

[Firebird]

Yes. You are right. We make our own heaven or hell within us. It can sometimes change like the flick of a switch. We have no-one to blame but ourselves. Other people can be forgiven it's hard to forgive ourselves.

[Zugzwang]

Precisely. It's easy to blame others but much harder to look within and see what we are responsible for having done. Often we find that we are actively participating in whatever it is we are experiencing as unpleasant.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

other people might cause us limbo sometimes...and a bit of purgatory, but we surely create our own hell...no doubt.

well said, my friend.

j.

[Zugzwang]

Thank you, j. Too often we rush to blame others when we really ought to slow down and take a good look within. I know this because I have been guilty of it many times.

[Gaia Octavia]

I think this is my favorite. Ever. Simple and true as every masterful poem must be.

[Zugzwang]

Wow, thanks, Gaia. It's funny, since I actually thought this one was a bit pants, as the British say. It just goes to show. I do respect your opinion, however and must therefore agree that I am a genius.
I just watched a documentary on British poets and was awestruck at the stunning hubris of Ezra Pound. Really amazing. So, I thought I ought to follow in his gargantuan footsteps and proclaim my genius to the world.
I am the best.

[Gaia Octavia]

There is no better garnish for simple truth than self-aggrandizement.

[Zugzwang]

I concur! Especially when it's completely uncalled for :)

[Gaia Octavia]

Is it ever not uncalled for? Haha

[Zugzwang]

Actually, I hate arrogant people. How crestfallen I am to realise that I am one.

[Gaia Octavia]

Your self-characterization is highly suspect.

[Zugzwang]

I am nothing if not a character.

[Gaia Octavia]

See now I believe you

[Zugzwang]

Yar. It's world pirate day. Not really, but apparently 10 characters are necessary so a simple 'yar' is unacceptable.

[Gaia Octavia]

Usually I get that too. Gotta love fillers.

[alifeacoustic]

Nicely putting Satre in his rightful place. Brilliantly captured.

[Zugzwang]

Yar, well I guess I was using a bit of poetic license there. Poor old Sartre actually spent a lot of time explaining why that quote was often misused by ignorant people (such as myself!). And here I am, giving Sartre a bad rap, again. Poor guy.

[alifeacoustic]

Yes, I totally get how something said is reported as a snippet of thought without the ingredients of the thought being reported. Maybe he was with family at christmas when he said it :)

[Zugzwang]

Hahaha...snap!