The play takes place in Argos, a Greek city which Sartre uses to symbolize France under the German Occupation. The action can be interpreted on three levels: (1) philosophical/moral, (2) political, and (3) the literal level of the Greek myth. There is an enormous wooden statue of Zeus, god of […]

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Zeus/Jupiter Depending on the translation you are reading, this character’s name will be either Zeus (the Greek name) or Jupiter (the Roman name). He is the chief of the gods, who is said to be the son of Chronus (Saturn) and Rhea (Ops); he was educated on Mt. Ida in […]

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Many critics consider The Flies (Les Mouches) to be Sartre’s most effective drama. It deals with commitment and resistance, and the theme of freedom is woven throughout the play’s fabric. The play was produced in 1943, during World War II, and Sartre is lauded for having gotten his play past […]

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