The Autodidact is a fictional character from

Jean-Paul Sartre Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (, ; ; 21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism (and phenomenology), a French playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and litera ...

's 1938 novel ''

Nausea Nausea is a diffuse sensation of unease and discomfort, sometimes perceived as an urge to vomit. While not painful, it can be a debilitating symptom if prolonged and has been described as placing discomfort on the chest, abdomen, or back of the ...

''.Michel Contat and Michel Rybalka, Les Écrits de Sartre. Chronologie, bibliographie commentée, Paris, Gallimard, 1970, p. 61, E.T., Michel Contat and Michel Rybalka, trans. Richard C. McCleary, The Writings of Jean-Paul Sartre, Volume 1 "A Bibliographical Life", Evanston: Northwestern University Press, 1974, pp. 52-3. The Autodidact, who lives in Bouville near the protagonist Antoine Roquentin, passes his time by reading every book in the local library in alphabetical order. Self-instruction is of critical importance to him, and provides the explanation for his odd behaviour and continual self-delusion. The name ''Autodidact'' comes from the noun '' Autodidactism'', which is the act of self-directed learning about a subject or subjects in which one has had little to no formal education.

References

Male characters in literature Literary characters introduced in 1938 Jean-Paul Sartre {{Fict-char-stub