How did Jean-Paul Sartre explore freedom and responsibility in his plays during the German Occupation?

During the German Occupation, Jean-Paul Sartre utilized his plays to examine the complex interplay between individual freedom, necessity, and the weight of collective responsibility. Rather than viewing freedom as an abstract or isolated concept, his dramatic works during this period—most notably The Flies (1943) and No Exit (1944)—challenged audiences to confront the consequences of their choices.1

In No Exit, Sartre famously posited that "hell is other people," illustrating how individuals often rely on others for self-definition, which leads to mutual entrapment and the denial of authentic freedom. By portraying characters who are unable to escape the judgments and presence of others, he highlighted the inescapable nature of human interaction and the moral burden inherent in our relationships. These works served as a medium to explore human action, suggesting that even in oppressive circumstances, individuals remain responsible for the choices they make. Through these plays, Sartre began to bridge the gap between his earlier philosophical focus on individual free will and his later commitment to social and political engagement.231