The Last Labyrinth and Hindu Vision

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Recommended: Importance of mythology

Mythology refers to the beliefs or opinions that people have about something when one things that they are false and untrue. So we can say that mythology caters the material, spiritual and cultural aspirations of the people. Some of the traits of mythology are also referred in the religion and culture. Religion reflects both God and man. It is a life to be lived which allows scope and validity to varied approaches to the Divine. All great religions preach respect for other ways of life whatever their practices may be.
Religion is the binding force which deepens the solidarity of human society. Religion is fulfillment of man’s life, an experience in which every aspect of his being is raised to its highest extent. The followers of any religion, residing anywhere in the world are influenced by religion and its culture. The novels of Arun Joshi are not the exception to it. The traits of mythology are perpetually found in the main characters of Joshi’s novel which is the subject matter of this study.
Sindi’s quest for identity, meaning and purpose of life does not end in despair. He did not find any absurdity and estrangement and noticed a great change in the condition of life. Due to intense suffering and chaos in the life of Sindi and Sheila it was presumed that their relationship will develop in marriage.
In The Foreigner there appears a deep influence of the Bhagavad Gita wherein Sindi quotes certain verses from it, in which principles of detachment has been preached. But in the novel itself he did not believe in God or religion. He is full of passion and having sexual relations with Anna, Kathy, Christine and June. He keeps relations with one after another in the garb of theory of ...

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...d Gita ( Chapter 16 Text 8 )
4. Joshi Arun, 1993, The Foreigner, Delhi Orient Paper Backs p.43
5. The Bhagawad Gita ( Chapter 18 Text 8)
6. Joshi Arun, 1993, The Foreigner, Delhi Orient Paper Backs p.60
7. Joshi Arun, 1993, The Foreigner, Delhi Orient Paper Backs p.60
8. Joshi Arun, 1971, The Strange Case of Billy Biswas, Delhi Orient Paper Backs p.176
9. Joshi Arun, 1971, The Strange Case of Billy Biswas, Delhi Orient Paper Backs p.177
10 Mathai Sujatha, 1983, “I am a stranger to my books” Times of India, July1, 1983.
11 Pandey Mukteshwar Arun Joshi The existential Elements in his novels New Delhi
B.R. Publishing Corportation 1998.
12 Joshi Arun, 1981, The Last Labyrinth, Delhi Orient Paper Backs p.11
13 The Bhagawad Gita ( Chapter 2 Text 62)
14 The Bhagawad Gita ( Chapter 2 Text 163)
15 The Bhagawad Gita ( Chapter 9 Text 34)

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