Existentialism in Tree Without Roots
Md. Shafiul Alam Khan Chowdhury
Abstract: Syed Waliullah is a modern Bangladeshi writer who wrote both in Bangla and English languages with equal efficiency. Lal Shalu (Red Cloth) and Tree Without Roots are two excellent examples of his excellence in this regard. The novel has also been translated in French by Ann-Marie Thibaud. An important note about this translation is that the source of the translation was not Lal Shalu but Tree Without Roots. The novel has also been translated in Urdu, German and Czech. The aim of this paper is to find out existentialist and modernistic elements from Tree Without Roots as little work has been done in this regard. In the novel, both Majeed as an individual and the people of Mahabbatpur collectively make their choice to survive or strengthen their existence in this world. Instead of having an existentialist approach, our author portrays an ever-conscious conscience of Majeed to establish him as a modern hero in Tree Without Roots.
Published in Fall 2010-11