Existential Struggles and Human Dilemmas: An Analysis of Suffering, Alienation, and the Absurd in Upamanyu Chatterjee’s The Last Burden

Abstract

Human existence is frequently characterized by isolation, alienation, and intense suffering. Pain and distress play central roles in life, having the capacity to either strengthen individuals or drive them into profound despair. This research examines the existential dilemmas and human struggles depicted in Upamanyu Chatterjee’s The Last Burden, focusing on the themes of suffering, alienation, and the human condition. Anchored in existentialist philosophy, the research explores fractured family dynamics, personal disillusionment, and the quest for meaning in an unpredictable and tumultuous world. Chatterjee’s narrative emphasizes suffering as a central theme, revealing the paradoxical nature of human relationships, which are simultaneously burdensome and essential. The research demonstrates that the novel underscores existential concerns such as loneliness, estrangement, hostility, despair, frustration, and the perceived futility of existence. Chatterjee paints a bleak yet authentic picture of life, where suffering and death are inevitable, and familial ties often fail to provide solace. He compels readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of existence, the fragility of relationships, and the inability of humans to reconcile with their existential predicament.