Existential Angst in The Serpent and the Rope and Asamardhuni Jeevayatra

Abstract

According to existentialists, “man is thrown into the world by choice.” That makes it clear that man’s survival depends on the choices available at his grasp. Based on the circumstances, man chooses the option which appears to be right according to the then prevailing situations. The sole responsibility for the consequences as a result of individual’s choice, allows him be aware of it constantly. As long as his life goes happily, he assures himself that he reckons the right option and he won’t bother about anything else. But when he faces the difficulties in his way of living, he tends to question himself whether he is on the right track and has chosen the right option. This leads to an anxiety which pertains to introspection and disbelief in his caliber. It is called “existential angst”. Out of that state of existential angst, he starts drawing comparisons between his actions and others’ actions and the consequences. That sometimes results in conflicts; sometimes proactive actions; and other times, philosophical speculations. Thus, my paper focuses on such an existential dilemma experienced by two protagonist of two novels namely, The Serpent and the Rope, an English novel and Asamardhuni Jeevayatra, a Telugu novel.

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