Nausea

Main Characters and Their Development

• Antoine Roquentin - the main character and narrator of the novel. He experiences an existential crisis manifested in a feeling of nausea. Antoine gradually realizes the absurdity of existence and concludes that a person is free and must give meaning to their own life.
• Anny - Antoine's former lover. She represents the past and lost opportunities for him. Meeting her highlights his loneliness and alienation.
• The Self-Taught Man - a friend of Antoine, who is passionate about ideas and philosophy. He strives for self-education and tries to find meaning in life through knowledge. However, his efforts seem futile to Antoine.