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Huis Clos and Other Plays
These three plays, diverse in subject but thematically coherent, illuminate one of Sartre's major philosophical concerns: the struggle to live and act freely in a complex and constricting world. 'Lucifer and the Lord', Sartre's favourite among his plays, explores this theme in depth, dealing in the process with fundamental questions of faith and disillusionment; in 'Huis Clos' - arguably Sartre's most important play - he contends that 'Hell is other people', and details the afterlife of three souls trapped together in a locked room and the torments that they inflict on each other; while 'The Respectable Prostitute', set in the Deep South of America, is concerned with racism, subjugation and the demands of conscience.
224 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2000
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287 people want to read
About the author
Jean-Paul Sartre
1,094 books12.9k followersJean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic, considered a leading figure in 20th-century French philosophy and Marxism. Sartre was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism (and phenomenology). His work has influenced sociology, critical theory, post-colonial theory, and literary studies. He was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature despite attempting to refuse it, saying that he always declined official honors and that "a writer should not allow himself to be turned into an institution."
Sartre held an open relationship with prominent feminist and fellow existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. Together, Sartre and de Beauvoir challenged the cultural and social assumptions and expectations of their upbringings, which they considered bourgeois, in both lifestyles and thought. The conflict between oppressive, spiritually destructive conformity (mauvaise foi, literally, 'bad faith') and an "authentic" way of "being" became the dominant theme of Sartre's early work, a theme embodied in his principal philosophical work Being and Nothingness (L'Être et le Néant, 1943). Sartre's introduction to his philosophy is his work Existentialism Is a Humanism (L'existentialisme est un humanisme, 1946), originally presented as a lecture.
Sartre held an open relationship with prominent feminist and fellow existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. Together, Sartre and de Beauvoir challenged the cultural and social assumptions and expectations of their upbringings, which they considered bourgeois, in both lifestyles and thought. The conflict between oppressive, spiritually destructive conformity (mauvaise foi, literally, 'bad faith') and an "authentic" way of "being" became the dominant theme of Sartre's early work, a theme embodied in his principal philosophical work Being and Nothingness (L'Être et le Néant, 1943). Sartre's introduction to his philosophy is his work Existentialism Is a Humanism (L'existentialisme est un humanisme, 1946), originally presented as a lecture.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 8, 2015
--The Respectable Prostitute
--Lucifer and the Lord
--Huis Clos
--Lucifer and the Lord
--Huis Clos
April 11, 2020
"If God exists, man is nothing. If man exists..."
In this collection of plays, Sartre examines disillusion, authenticity, absurdism and faith, all under his own existentialist framework. 'Lucifer and the Lord' has his main characters extensively examine faith and the idea of 'existence precedes essence' against the backdrop of the German Peasants' War in the 16th century. 'Huis Clos/No Exit' can easily be seen as his finest work. Three recently deceased characters meet in a hot, dark, windowless room and end up discussing their deaths, their sins and their torments. This is Sartre's own vision of Hell. Through the character of Garcin, Sartre perfectly captures mans search for living authentically in an irrational world.
"One always dies too soon - or too late. And yet one's whole life is complete at that moment, with a line drawn neatly under it, ready for the summing up. You are - your life, and nothing else."
In this collection of plays, Sartre examines disillusion, authenticity, absurdism and faith, all under his own existentialist framework. 'Lucifer and the Lord' has his main characters extensively examine faith and the idea of 'existence precedes essence' against the backdrop of the German Peasants' War in the 16th century. 'Huis Clos/No Exit' can easily be seen as his finest work. Three recently deceased characters meet in a hot, dark, windowless room and end up discussing their deaths, their sins and their torments. This is Sartre's own vision of Hell. Through the character of Garcin, Sartre perfectly captures mans search for living authentically in an irrational world.
"One always dies too soon - or too late. And yet one's whole life is complete at that moment, with a line drawn neatly under it, ready for the summing up. You are - your life, and nothing else."
January 13, 2023
Every character is like a horribly sweet ripe clementine with segmented flesh just splitting away from itself. I wish Sartre had written everything ever
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February 14, 2024sartre beğendiğime inanamıyorum
May 11, 2024
"I need to be put on trial. Every day, every hour, I condemn myself, but I can never convince myself because I know myself too well to trust myself. I cannot see my soul any longer, because it is under my nose; I need someone to lend me his eyes."
Lucifer and the Lord
but also
"I can't endure it any longer, I'm through with you both. Go away....I won't let myself get bogged in your eyes. You're soft and slimy. Ugh! Like an octopus. Like a quagmire."
Huis Clos
Doesn't seem like there's much wiggle room for self-acceptance then*? :/
Loved Lucifer and the Lord in particular - it being much longer and more complex than the other brief drawing-room agonies meant its inextricable bronze net of dilemmas stretched out much further and contorted its characters in more interesting ways. The self-condemned trio of protagonists are particularly fascinating - the Lenin-esque revolutionary Nasti, the fallen priest Heinrich pursued by an invisible devil, and the bastard Goetz, who decides first to do pure Evil and then pure Good from first principles, and fails spectacularly at doing either...
*Hell is other people but it's also the writhings of your own brain, thus the solution to existentialism: variety is the spice of life. You're welcome Sartre
October 27, 2014
Huis Clos and Other Plays holds three plays: The Respectable Prostitute, Lucifer and the Lord, and Huis Clos.
The Respectable Prostitute was interesting, though a bit simplistic. Sartre is very much into ethical responsibility, and the prostitute in this play only wants to do the right thing. In true essentialist fashion she is faced with an impossible situation which has no "good answer", and the end result is pretty depressing.
Speaking of depressing, next up is Lucifer and the Lord. This play is incredibly dense and long. The religious themes are heavy-handed and the writing sometimes hard to follow. I can understand why this play is very beloved by Sartre himself, but as a reader it's not very enjoyable. The play could have used some culling of repetitious scenes.
Huis Clos, I quite enjoyed. The philosophical themes are there, but not pounded into your head like in Lucifer and the Lord. In many ways the play is very recognisable, and it combines comic and tragic elements in an entertaining way.
The Respectable Prostitute was interesting, though a bit simplistic. Sartre is very much into ethical responsibility, and the prostitute in this play only wants to do the right thing. In true essentialist fashion she is faced with an impossible situation which has no "good answer", and the end result is pretty depressing.
Speaking of depressing, next up is Lucifer and the Lord. This play is incredibly dense and long. The religious themes are heavy-handed and the writing sometimes hard to follow. I can understand why this play is very beloved by Sartre himself, but as a reader it's not very enjoyable. The play could have used some culling of repetitious scenes.
Huis Clos, I quite enjoyed. The philosophical themes are there, but not pounded into your head like in Lucifer and the Lord. In many ways the play is very recognisable, and it combines comic and tragic elements in an entertaining way.
May 1, 2016
Mind-blowing plays! Thrilling and thought-provoking... Sartre had a way with words. Respect!
March 24, 2017
Can't say I enjoyed the first two plays in this collection, 'The respectable prostitute' and 'luciefer and the lord' at all, but the last play 'Huis Clos' was very good.
January 11, 2024
A mixed bag of Sartre's work - I'll be honest I bought this purely to read Huis Clos, perhaps his most famous play. The first in this short collection, The Respectable Prostitute, is set in the deep south of America with fierce tones of racism, corruption and ultimately anti-Americanism that makes the plot somewhat predictable.
Lucifer and The Lord is the longest of the three and supposedly Sartre's favourite, exploring disillusionment with faith. Frankly this was a slog to get through and at times felt repetitive so maybe I've not appreciated it as others have done.
Huis Clos, translated variously as No Exit or Closed Doors, is surely his most well known play and famous for the phrase "L'enfer, c'est les autres..." (Hell..is other people). Three people find themselves trapped in a room waiting for the typical torments of hell, but quickly realising that hell is in fact the pain they inflict on each other within the room.
The joy in reading Huis Clos etched this review up to 4 stars for me.
Lucifer and The Lord is the longest of the three and supposedly Sartre's favourite, exploring disillusionment with faith. Frankly this was a slog to get through and at times felt repetitive so maybe I've not appreciated it as others have done.
Huis Clos, translated variously as No Exit or Closed Doors, is surely his most well known play and famous for the phrase "L'enfer, c'est les autres..." (Hell..is other people). Three people find themselves trapped in a room waiting for the typical torments of hell, but quickly realising that hell is in fact the pain they inflict on each other within the room.
The joy in reading Huis Clos etched this review up to 4 stars for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2023
It's hard to rate this, because one of my absolutely favourite plays are in this (Huis Clos a.k.a. No Exit), but the other two are only mediocre at best. So I've gone with four stars.
I read Huis Clos in uni and loved it and I was overjoyed to see that seven or so years later it was just as good upon reread. Perhaps even better since I understood it better.
I read Huis Clos in uni and loved it and I was overjoyed to see that seven or so years later it was just as good upon reread. Perhaps even better since I understood it better.
July 28, 2025
(4.5/5)
August 24, 2025
I do not understand existentialism, how can hell be other people?
August 14, 2023
sometimes it was really challenging to understand, I would love to read this book in original french. rather than watching or reading a play which are condemned to make you feel happy or relaxed, these plays made me uncomfortable, thoughtful about life and also questioning the sense of my existence in this world. Sartre is one of the greatest in existentialism, I really enjoyed reading this book!
November 11, 2012
Just to make things clear: I'm reviewing this from the point of view of a general reader/audience. I'm trying to leave my studies in philosophy aside, the rating would be very different from that p.o.v. I think we are all aware this is an existentialist classic.
So far I'm going to give it just 3 stars because I really liked one play and not so much the other one (believe me, I'm heartbroken about that). I have one play still left so I may change my mind later.
The Respectable Prostitute:
I hadn't heard about this play before, which made it a very nice surprise. I didn't know what to expect nor what it was about so I came in a virgin into it. It was fantastic! As I said pleasant surprise.
As you might imagine its about a working girl, Lizzie, who has a pretty decent moral compass in spite her profession, she has moved from New York to a new town in the southern states in America and gets involved in a murder accusation between a white man and a black man. Although I'm not absolutely sure of the historical time in which it takes place, by the dialogue I understood it to be somewhere around (either right before or right after) or during the American Civil War. The people from the town (particularly the Senator and his family) want to incriminate the black man that is said to have tried to and raped Lizzie. However, she knows that this is not true and she tries to help the man escape.
I already knew I like Sartre's writing, which is why I picked up the book (I was particularly interested in finally getting to read Huis Clos -No exit-) but the character development (the little that such a short play can permit) and the structure of the plot in this play left me with a new sense of admiration for Sartre's writing. Completely recommend it.
Huis Clos (No Exit):
No Exit could be see as an experiment on human nature. If you've ever done some minor philosophy training and have encountered Sartre's work beyond Existentialism is a Humanism, then you've probably heard of Huis Clos (No Exit). It is the story of three damned souls: Mr. Garcin, Inez and Estelle; that after their death have gone straight down (or should I say up?) to Hell. In there, they don't encounter whips and torture machines and fire, as they expected; they encounter each other, locked in a small poorly decorated room for all eternity. They cannot sleep (there's no need to) and they cannot even blink. They cannot rest from each other's company, or presence even. And, as Sartre himself indicates, 'Other People are Hell'.
This makes for an excellent plot prompt! (to say the least) And I have to be honest...I was slightly disappointed with Huis Clos. This is probably Sartre's best known play and I think the whole fuzz around it (at least from the philosophical point of view) gave me higher expectations than what I met on the page. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see this on stage and it is still a very interesting play. But I suppose that, with the foreknowledge of what situation they were going to be at, I was expecting something more from this characters once I had met them...
Lucifer And The Lord:
-I am yet to read this one, I'll update this review once I do so.-
So far I'm going to give it just 3 stars because I really liked one play and not so much the other one (believe me, I'm heartbroken about that). I have one play still left so I may change my mind later.
The Respectable Prostitute:
I hadn't heard about this play before, which made it a very nice surprise. I didn't know what to expect nor what it was about so I came in a virgin into it. It was fantastic! As I said pleasant surprise.
As you might imagine its about a working girl, Lizzie, who has a pretty decent moral compass in spite her profession, she has moved from New York to a new town in the southern states in America and gets involved in a murder accusation between a white man and a black man. Although I'm not absolutely sure of the historical time in which it takes place, by the dialogue I understood it to be somewhere around (either right before or right after) or during the American Civil War. The people from the town (particularly the Senator and his family) want to incriminate the black man that is said to have tried to and raped Lizzie. However, she knows that this is not true and she tries to help the man escape.
I already knew I like Sartre's writing, which is why I picked up the book (I was particularly interested in finally getting to read Huis Clos -No exit-) but the character development (the little that such a short play can permit) and the structure of the plot in this play left me with a new sense of admiration for Sartre's writing. Completely recommend it.
Huis Clos (No Exit):
No Exit could be see as an experiment on human nature. If you've ever done some minor philosophy training and have encountered Sartre's work beyond Existentialism is a Humanism, then you've probably heard of Huis Clos (No Exit). It is the story of three damned souls: Mr. Garcin, Inez and Estelle; that after their death have gone straight down (or should I say up?) to Hell. In there, they don't encounter whips and torture machines and fire, as they expected; they encounter each other, locked in a small poorly decorated room for all eternity. They cannot sleep (there's no need to) and they cannot even blink. They cannot rest from each other's company, or presence even. And, as Sartre himself indicates, 'Other People are Hell'.
This makes for an excellent plot prompt! (to say the least) And I have to be honest...I was slightly disappointed with Huis Clos. This is probably Sartre's best known play and I think the whole fuzz around it (at least from the philosophical point of view) gave me higher expectations than what I met on the page. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see this on stage and it is still a very interesting play. But I suppose that, with the foreknowledge of what situation they were going to be at, I was expecting something more from this characters once I had met them...
Lucifer And The Lord:
-I am yet to read this one, I'll update this review once I do so.-
December 9, 2021
I had originally bought this book to read Huis Clos but after reading all three I definitely enjoyed "The Respectable Prostitute" the most out of all three plays.
This is because I felt it gave many different possible interpretations and a commentary on many different aspects such as religion, race, caste etc. which made it very interesting to read.
However, the second play, "Lucifer and the Lord" was also very enjoyable and interesting to read with it focusing heavily on right and wrong, good and evil. I enjoyed Goetz's character and his constant personality changes, the many hidden plot lines which act in a cyclical manner and the repeating characters of Nasti, Heinrich and Karl with the constant religious commentary happening in the background. It is also included definite aspects of communism and socialism in relation to religion and it definitely questioned moral activity in a way which caused me to really think.
Huis Clos was definitely interesting. I had already known what the play would be about going into it but it still blew my expectation. It was crafted in such a way that feels like agony to read but in a good way. It is an agonising read because it engulfs you in the possibility of what Hell could be like, an enclosed space of constant torture and mental challenges. It is so well crafted that it had me myself aching to finish the play, so I could escape the scenery.
In summary every single play in this book by Sartre was constantly enjoyable to read and all had political and philosophical aspects towards it!
This is because I felt it gave many different possible interpretations and a commentary on many different aspects such as religion, race, caste etc. which made it very interesting to read.
However, the second play, "Lucifer and the Lord" was also very enjoyable and interesting to read with it focusing heavily on right and wrong, good and evil. I enjoyed Goetz's character and his constant personality changes, the many hidden plot lines which act in a cyclical manner and the repeating characters of Nasti, Heinrich and Karl with the constant religious commentary happening in the background. It is also included definite aspects of communism and socialism in relation to religion and it definitely questioned moral activity in a way which caused me to really think.
Huis Clos was definitely interesting. I had already known what the play would be about going into it but it still blew my expectation. It was crafted in such a way that feels like agony to read but in a good way. It is an agonising read because it engulfs you in the possibility of what Hell could be like, an enclosed space of constant torture and mental challenges. It is so well crafted that it had me myself aching to finish the play, so I could escape the scenery.
In summary every single play in this book by Sartre was constantly enjoyable to read and all had political and philosophical aspects towards it!
November 22, 2021
The good prostitute: 2.5⭐
It was fine I guess the message was powerful back in the day but now just seems kinda icky, it wasn't painful to read it was just plain
Lucifer and the lord: 72922727⭐
Omg it was so fucking good at the begging I wanted to skip it because the medieval religious war set up is not really my thing but I loved the character and AAA 💕💓💕💓❤️💞❤️💓
Huis clos: 3⭐
Cool idea but the characters were pretty meh, good place did it better
It was fine I guess the message was powerful back in the day but now just seems kinda icky, it wasn't painful to read it was just plain
Lucifer and the lord: 72922727⭐
Omg it was so fucking good at the begging I wanted to skip it because the medieval religious war set up is not really my thing but I loved the character and AAA 💕💓💕💓❤️💞❤️💓
Huis clos: 3⭐
Cool idea but the characters were pretty meh, good place did it better
March 11, 2012
I loved Sartre and all his existential wallowing....
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December 1, 2012Only read: No Exit
April 7, 2014
Three fantastic and thought provoking plays. "God is dead", "Hell is other people" and many other quotes which entertain the mind.
March 13, 2017
NB: I only read the play entitled "Huis Clos", so I am basing my rating solely on what I thought of that play.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews