Long Journey to Freedom: An Interpretation of Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard from the Perspective of Existentialism

Abstract

Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard is the debut work of the 2006 Man Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai. There are many discussions on the novel from the perspective of ecocriticism, but existentialism in the work has received less attention. This article intends to start with Sartre’s existentialism, expounding how the protagonist Sampath lives in an absurd world, gets rid of the control of others and seeks the freedom he desires in his heart. This paper believes that by shaping Sampath’s image of pursuing freedom, Kiran Desai embodies his exposure to the absurd society of India and her yearning for spiritual freedom.