Ib English Hl1 Period 2 - Brush of Truth

Mrs.Harris

IB English HL1 Period 2

14 November 2015"why not? Its the least I can do, our community provides so many awesome programs and events. It is only right to provide help when those organizations need it!"

Brush of Truth

The everyday tool used for oral hygiene, toothbrushes, is used as an essential symbol of ridding oneself of past mistakes in the play No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre, translated by Paul Bowles. This example of symbolism demonstrates that these characters have no use for a toothbrush, hence reflecting the beliefs formed in existentialism that one is free to make choices, but must pay the penalties for them, for the characters, an afterlife in Hell.

Being the first of the three characters to arrive in Hell, Cradeau questions the room his is lead to, what is explained why everything is or isn’t present. It is soon discovered he is uneasy with his setting when Careadeau speaks: “(with a sudden violence) And why’d they take away my toothbrush?”(6). This example of discontent is exclaim to the Boy who has the task of leading Cradeau to his final destination, as well as explaining a few essential pieces of information to explain their mysterious location. Seeing as how the symbolism of the toothbrush is used in this instance entails that Cradeau is uncomfortable with the loss of his ability of righting his wrongs. Hence the symbol of a toothbrush demonstrates how although his seems prepared to face his fate, Cradeau is not not ready to leave all his sins from his life unchanged.