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Title EXISTENTIALIST ANGST AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOUR: A PSYCHOANALYTIC STUDY OF DRINKING FROM A BITTER CUP AND THIRTEEN REASONS WHY

Author(s) KASHIF ABBAS HASHMI

Abstract This study poses objectives that include the exploring of the theme of existentialist angst and suicide, possible effects of interpersonal relations, social norms and customs on suicidal behaviour and to identify the insinuations of suicidal behaviour in the selected texts of Drinking From a Bitter Cup (2013) and Thirteen Reasons Why (2007). Suicide, as portrayed in the selected texts, can be seen as a product of Existentialist Angst combined with interpersonal reasons like thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. The textual analyses are helped by the notion of Existentialism and Thomas Joiner’s Interpersonal theory of suicidal behaviour specifically to trace out the hidden motifs behind individual’s suicidal behaviour. According to Joiner a suicidal individual acquires the ability to enact lethal self-injury after going through several stages of interpersonal frustrations. The precepts of existentialism also assisted in discovering and analyzing the essence of one’s existence as well as the possibility of choice of non-existence. Whereas, psychoanalysis, as a literary approach, probed into the characters’ concealed cognitive activities. The study revealed that Existentialist Angst leads main characters to commit suicide. Further it has been found out that suicidal characters experience existentialist angst, thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness before suicide. Research is concluded with Joiner’s remedy i.e. “acting right” to curtail suicidal behavior and summing up of all the findings. The study is significant for its interdisciplinary nature as well as its in depth analysis of human psyche exhibited by the characters and their behaviours in their respective societies.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

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Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2019-02-13

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