Ontological Desire in Updikes Fiction A Lacanian Reading

Abstract

John Milton 1608 1674 inadvertently pleads for the support from his other newlinecalled the Muse in the realization of his epic Paradise Lost 1667 The concept of newlinethe self and the Other has intrigued man since time immemorial In schools of Indian newlinephilosophy like Madhavacharyas it is called swa and para Generally philosophers newlinepresume human being as a conflation of these twin elements Like philosophy newlinepsychoanalysis particularly the Lacanian brand conjures up the dialectics of the self newlineand the Other in its theory and praxis Mans existence as an imperfect half separated newlinefrom its counter other half arouses in him the desire to become the perfect circle of newlineexistence This yearning can be called the ontological desire of humanity It is a desire newlinepertaining to mans existence in the world as a being The present study ventures to newlinescan and analyse the ontological desire of the heroes in the select novels of John newlineUpdike It employs Sartrean ontology and Lacanian subjectivity as its theoretical tools newlineto assess their ontological desire newline