Shanlax International Journal of English

Exploring the Interplay between Inner Dialogue, Active Being, and Public Action: A Philosophical Analysis of Hannah Arendt’s Concepts

2026-03-02T12:34:46+00:00

Hannah Arendt’s political philosophy provides a deep and concise lens, through which we can inerrogate the conditions of man’s existence, particularly with her ideas about inner dialogue, active being, and public action. However, much of the current scholarship tends to treat these concepts in isolation, leading to incomplete interpretations that overlook their interconnectedness. This paper tackles the issue of the absence of a comprehensive analysis that brings these elements together, highlighting their profound implications for ethics and politics. The main goal is to investigate how inner dialogue underpins moral responsibility, how active being reflects the freedom and diversity of human life, and how public action represents the culmination of thought and practice within the shared political arena. Methodologically, this study employs a hermeneutic and conceptual analysis of Arendt’s key works, The Human Condition, The Life of the Mind, and Eichmann in Jerusalem, while also engaging with critical secondary literature to interpret her ideas in relation to one another. The findings indicate that inner dialogue acts as a protective measure against the perils of thoughtlessness and moral failure, active being embodies the creative potential of new beginnings and freedom, and public action reveals human identity within the delicate yet essential space of visibility. The contribution of this paper lies in its development of a cohesive framework, illustrating that the interaction of thought, being, and action provides valuable insights for addressing modern challenges in democratic accountability, ethical decision-making, and civic duty.

The Impact of Fatherhood in the Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma and Lily’s Resilience in Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us

2026-03-02T12:34:46+00:00

The study explores the intergenerational trauma that is transmitted through the family system, focusing on how the wounds of one generation shape the psychological and emotional realities of the next. Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us (2016) gives a fictional lens to look at the father’s role in transmitting trauma because of his violent behavior. This study examines the paternal influence that plays a vital role in intergenerational trauma, focusing on the child’s emotional and psychological effects of her father’s abusive behavior and her internal turmoil to redefine the relationship. Through a multidisciplinary approach combining trauma theory, literary analysis, and psychology of self, the study states that Hoover has fictionalized both the incidents of inherited trauma and the possibility of breaking the cycle of abuse. The study proves how essential it is to understand that the fatherly figure of a family can influence the childhood of his own child and how necessary it is to be responsible in the parenting of their child. The study aims to help society understand and overlook for the betterment of oneself and also for the future generation to live in harmony and peace.

Narrative Unreliability in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver

2026-03-02T12:34:46+00:00

In this paper, Narrative Unreliability is examined which is present in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1976). The notion that Travis Bickle is suffering as a symptom of his troubled mind does not tell the whole truth. This study uses narratology and close psychological analysis to uncover subjective perspectives. Various cinematic techniques like selective editing, voice-over narration and point-of-view shots depict an unreliable narrative framework in the film. These techniques, though used sparingly, reflect psychological decomposition of Travis. The inconsistency in Travis’s personality in the film is not just a stylistic choice. It depicts urban alienation, the trauma post-Vietnam and how the identity of vigilantes of America in 1970s was formed. The film’s narrative unreliability immerses the audience in Travis’s distorted worldview. Simultaneously, it critiques the violence it appears to glorify. It is evident how Travis misinterprets social cues and frequently constructs delusional narratives. His voice-over contradicts visual evidence throughout the film. The primary assumption in this paper is that moral ambiguity is placed at the centre of the film’s meaning through unreliable narration. This would provide ground for movies in which the protagonists are psychologically unstable. Taxi Driver’s narration is also crucial to understand subjective cinema and character psychology.

Negotiating Belonging: Internal Diaspora in Amit Chaudhuri’s A Strange and Sublime Address

2026-03-02T12:34:46+00:00

This paper explores the idea of internal diaspora in Amit Chaudhuri’s A Strange and Sublime Address, shifting the discussion away from conventional understandings of diaspora as migration across borders. Instead, it examines how emotional, cultural, and generational discontinuities within the same nation can also produce feelings of displacement. Through a close reading of the novel, the study argues that Chaudhuri constructs a subtle form of diasporic consciousness in the young protagonist, Sandeep, whose visit to his extended family in Calcutta becomes an encounter with a world that is both familiar and strangely distant. Using insights from diaspora theory and cultural memory studies, the paper shows how sensory detail, domestic routines, and temporal stillness contribute to Sandeep’s experience of quiet estrangement. Ultimately, the study highlights Chaudhuri’s contribution to a broader understanding of diaspora as a lived, psychological condition rather than merely a geographical event.