Date of Award

10-4-2024

Document Type

Thesis

School

School of Arts, Sciences, Humanities & Education

Programme

Ph.D.-Doctoral of Philosophy

First Advisor

Dr.G.Sashi Kala

Keywords

Authentic Existence, Existentialism, Gender identity, Indian English Writing, Three Stages of Life and Transgender studies

Abstract

According to Soren Kierkegaard, “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced”. Human beings are completely free to make choices in their life and live in accordance to those. However, they have to be responsible as well as committed to their choices for an authentic existence. Transgender persons are also human beings though they identify themselves different from the gender binary.

This research has proposed to explore the existential struggles and faith of transgender persons in the modern society with reference to the application of three stages of life of Soren Kierkegaard to the Indian English novels namely I am also a Human: The Inner Voice of Soul by Jasbir Singh and Raasathi: The Other Side of a Transgender by Sasindran Kallinkeel.

In addition to this, the research has also extended to an empirical study conducted in the selected districts of Tamil Nadu namely Thanjavur and Trichy for exploring the practical challenges of transgender persons in making their existence. Thus, this research investigates the existential strife of transgender persons as represented both in the literary works and in the society to justify the idea that transgender persons are also human beings and that literature serves its purpose rightly.

Download

Share

COinS