The main conflict in No Exit (and in
Sartre's philosophy of existentialism) is human vs. human
concerning freedom. Remember, No Exit was written during the Nazi
occupation of France, so Sartre wanted to show that "hell is other people." In other
words, we let other people limit our freedom. But, rather than military occupation, we
invite others to torture us. Many of us even enjoy
it.
Sartre has three categories of freedom: the human whom
he compares to stones, the human he compares to plants, and the true person. The human
who is a stone, or who feeds on earthly bread instead of spiritual nourishment, makes no
choices and is happy. Sartre believes most people are in this category: they are
trapped by social conventions, fear, and false
self-image.
Inez, Garcin, and Estelle were like stones when
they were alive. Even in the play, after death, they act like stones. They cannot even
leave the room they hate (none of them exit the open door at the end). Instead, they
exhibit bad faith, a false self-image presented to others. In
other words, they wear masks (hide their authentic selves) and play-act (pretend to be
someone they are not).
Their relationships with each other
is a triangle of anguish (fear of freedom), for each character can foster freedom while
the other one blocks it. Inez can love Estelle, but Garcin blocks it. Estelle can free
Garcin, but Inez spites him. Inez can free Garcin, but Estelle interferes. And so on.
Here is the recipe for absurdity (a cycle of non-freedom).
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