EXPLORING SPIRITUALITY AND QUEST FOR IDENTITY IN ANITA DESAI'S NOVEL JOURNEY TO ITHACA: DOI: https://doi.org/10.56815/IJMRR.V1.I4.2022/38-40

Prikshit  Singh; Dr. Anu  Rathee

doi:10.56815/IJMRR.V1.I4.2022/38-40

Authors

Prikshit Singh Research Scholar, Department of English & Foreign Languages, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India
Dr. Anu Rathee Associate Professor, Chhotu Ram Arya College, Sonipat, India

https://doi.org/10.56815/IJMRR.V1.I4.2022/38-40

Keywords:

Enlightenment, Spirituality, Journey, Quest, Vedantic, Self-realization

Abstract

Life is like a travelogue in which many twists and circumstances come. People look for their life's purpose during their entire journey through it. Some of them travel in search of wisdom and vision of life. The plot of Journey to Ithaca is comparable. The narrative of the people who had a great desire to achieve their goals is told in Journey to Ithaca. To achieve their goal, they gave up their riches. In this novel, Matteo, Sophie, and Laila set out on a voyage for various reasons. Matteo travels for peace, a spiritual quest, and enlightenment, and Sophie wants her husband Matteo back home because she thinks India is a place of sanctimonious people. Laila first wants freedom from her life and further follows the spiritual journey. Anita Desai portrays the spiritual beliefs of Indians in the Vedas and Upanishads. Hindu gurus and holy sites are references in Journey to Ithaca. Reaching peace, discovering meaning in the small things, and developing self-awareness through reflection are the three main goals of the journey of life, as portrayed in this novel.