In Dante’s Inferno, the recurring number 3 kept coming out
throughout the poem. For example, there
were three parts of the poem, three members of the Trinity, and three heads on
Satan at the bottom of Hell. Dante
played on this usage of number 3 to show how Hell was the polar opposite of
Heaven. While reading No Exit, I noticed
a similar coincidental usage of “3” again in the play. Although the play is from a much different time
period than Dante’s Inferno, it is interesting to see how the “three” characters
in the play cause themselves so much torture.
The Hell in No Exit has no tortures that the characters do not cause
themselves. All torture is the product
of the three characters Garcin, Estelle, and Inez. This goes along with the play’s existentialist
theme of choice. The characters choices
in life and their choices while together in Hell cause themselves torture. All three characters are so different that
they fight while together and make themselves miserable. If there were only two characters in the Hell
of No Exit the fighting would not be as bad, however three characters together
leaves one person out which always leads to fighting.
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2 comments:
Three is just a special number. (That's why it's my lucky number.) Yes, three is used in Dante's inferno and in No exit, literature relating to Hell, but the number three is also used in the Bible. Jesus was 33 when he died and his was one of three people crucified. He rose again on the third day and he is part of the holy trinity. Oh and three wise men come to visit baby Jesus. Three is used in other religions (Three Jewels of Buddhism) as well, I', just picking Christianity because I know it best. Three is just a well rounded number. Look at Harry Potter, the main characters form a trio. There are three witches in Macbeth and let's not forget the three musketeers and the three blind mice. I don't think it represents good or evil - three is just a really, really popular number.
I think this point is very interesting. I didn't notice the symbolism of the number 3 while I was reading No Exit, but it makes sense. I agree with your analysis of three being significant in that three characters creates the perfect amount of conflict in the play. With only two characters, there is a chance at happiness for a couple with coinciding interests, but achieving harmony among three people is difficult, especially among three very opinionated, secretive, and strong-willed people.
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