Scene IV

The three of them talk about the cause of their deaths. The conversation makes Estelle uneasy, and she asks the others to refer to their dying as their absence. She does, however, tell the others a little about herself. She lived in Paris and died of pneumonia. Estelle also talks about her funeral ceremony. Inez next explains that she died in an accident caused by a gas stove. Garcin reports that he was shot twelve times. He also explains that he is survived by his wife, whom he has the ability to see back on earth. She always wears a black dress, in mourning for her husband; she also has big tragic eyes, which always got on Garcin's nerves during their marriage.

Garcin again covers his face with his hands and explains that he is trying to get things organized. He advises Inez to do the same. Inez laughs at the idea, saying that her life had always tidied itself of its own accord. Now in this room, which has been sealed with the three of them inside, she feels that there is absolutely nothing to organize.

Like in the earlier scene, Estelle continues to complain. First she rebukes Garcin for trying to remove his coat. Then she grumps that the room is pitch dark and smells of cigar-smoke and men. Everything seems hideous and uncomfortable to her. She also wonders why the three of them have been put together. She had really expected to meet old friends and relatives in the underworld, not total strangers.

More is learned about the three main characters in this section. Estelle does not like to face the truth and tries to hide behind appearances. Uncomfortable talking about death, she asks Garcin and Inez to call their dying an "absence." She also is shown to be a constant complainer. In this section, she gripes about the darkness and the ugly smells in the room; she also complains that none of her friends or family are with her in Hell. Estelle additionally reveals that she lived in Paris and died of pneumonia.

Garcin reveals that he was shot to death, leaving behind a widow who loved him very much. He can now look down to earth and see her grieving, which bothers him. Garcin also shows that he is very troubled about having to constantly be with Inez and Estelle. He covers his face, as if to hide from the reality of it, and tells the others that he is trying to get things organized in his mind. Inez laughs at him and says that there is really nothing to organize in this sparse room in Hell.

Inez's actions really speak louder than her words. Although she explains that she was killed by a gas stove exploding, more is learned about her in the way she acts. She again laughs at Garcin in a haughty way when he tells her she should get organized. Inez, probably lying to herself, states that on earth things in her life organized themselves.

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