Existentialism And Alienation

EXISTENTIAL CRISIS OF ALIENATION AND DESPAIR Existentialism as a philosophy it is historically and culturally rooted in European origin. Existentialists emphasize an individual’s freedom as well as his responsibilities, as they lay their focus on purpose of human existence. Sense of dislocation and alienation are common features of diasporic community, thus the plight of diasporans or the expatriates are always interpreted in the light of existential concern. Interaction with multiple cultures diminishes the chance of embracing one’s native culture, thus increases the chance of deculturation when one culture begins to efface the other. A person’s prolonged existence in a multicultural society, inevitably withdraws him from the indigenious

One dead. Another, a widow on the verge of different sort of departure, in order to dwell, as his father does, in a separate world.. Without people in the world to call him Gogol.. Once and for all Gogol Ganguli will vanish from the lips of the loved ones.”( NS

The memories are often related to the times, place and people and even occasions which the character experienced in past, in the homeland. Besides, these memories are now colored by imagination and nostalgia as it helps the diasporans to relive the moment. The term nostalgia is originated from Greek word 'nostos ', which means homecoming. According to the French writer Milan Kundera, "nostalgia is the suffering caused by unappeased yearning to return". The expatriate writers through their characters portray deep Nostalgia for the native country, and there attitude towards the new land is often negative. One 's native language, festivals, food.. create the feeling of nostalgia. Their memory of past moment in native land helps them to relive the pastlife and plays a vital role in adjusting in foreign land. Ashima thinks herself alienated from her loved ones, and when she arrive The United States for the first time. Ashima recollection of lullaby in Bengali, reminiscence usual routine life in Calcutta, where, " already evening half past eight, at this very moment in the kitchen of her parents ' flat on Amherst street, a servant is boring after- dinner tea." (NS 5). Infrequently, Ashima takes herself to the place in other side of globe , as these memories serves as an escape from the isolated city of Massachusetts in turn belittles the physical weight of the baby in her womb, as the text says, "for an