Disturbance (Book)

Jean-Paul Sartre’s first novel, Bulantı (La Nausée), was published in 1938 in France by Éditions Gallimard. The novel is one of the works in which Sartre presents his existentialist philosophy in literary form.

Plot

Bulantı is written in the form of a diary that records the inner reflections of Antoine Roquentin, a historian living in Bouville, a fictional French coastal town. Although Roquentin has settled in the town to write a biography of a baron, he gradually begins to confront an odd revulsion toward the banality of everyday life and ordinary objects. This revulsion is not merely a physical discomfort but a profound reaction to existence itself and a collapse in the individual’s relationship with reality. Roquentin becomes alienated from objects, his own body, the people around him, and history. In this process, his connection to the past is severed, the future becomes meaningless, and only the present moment remains. This state of awareness is termed “nausea.” Throughout the novel, Roquentin’s observations are filled with an intensifying revulsion toward mundane objects and existence. This feeling intensifies as he becomes acutely aware of existence in its raw, inexplicable “being-there.”

Writing Process and Publication Date

Sartre wrote Bulantı between 1932 and 1936. He initially titled the work “Melancholia” and submitted it to the journal Nouvelle Revue Française, where it was rejected. In 1937, the work was accepted by Gaston Gallimard, the publisher of the journal, and published in 1938 under the title La Nausée.

Genre and Themes

Existentialism and Meaninglessness

According to Sartre’s existentialist philosophy, human beings first exist and then define themselves. Bulantı is a literary expression of this idea. The “nausea” experienced by Roquentin is the result of the emptiness and meaninglessness of existence.

Individual Freedom and Responsibility

In the novel, human freedom is portrayed as both a gift and a curse. The individual must create meaning for their own life, and this freedom entails full responsibility for all one’s actions.

Alienation and Revulsion

Roquentin’s alienation from objects, his own body, and social life represents the disconnection of the modern individual from the world.

Time and Memory

As the stable structure of the past collapses, only an uncertain present remains for the character. The novel also explores the irretrievability of the past and the distrust of time’s flow.

Art and Creation

At the end of the novel, Roquentin realizes that meaning cannot be found in the external world but only in artistic creation. This awareness is the novel’s sole escape from nihilism.

Turkish Editions and Publishers

Bulantı has been translated into Turkish several times. The first Turkish edition was published in 1988 by Can Yayınları. Subsequent editions have been issued by various other publishers.

Literary and Philosophical Influences

Bulantı generated significant反响 in literary circles upon its publication. Sartre’s literary presentation of existentialist philosophy contributed substantially to philosophical thought. The novel offers a profound exploration of individual freedom and existential questioning.

Contemporary Significance

Today, Bulantı remains an essential reference for readers seeking to understand existentialist philosophy. Through its literary presentation of Sartre’s philosophical ideas, the novel holds a critical place in both literature and philosophy.