Nature, Human Struggle, and Suffering: A Comparative Study of J. M. Synge’s Riders to the Sea and Manik Bandopadhyay’s The Boatman of the Padma

This study offers an eco-critical comparison of J. M. Synge’s Riders to the Sea and Manik Bandopadhyay’s The Boatman of the Padma (Padma Nadir Majhi), exploring how nature shapes human life, struggle, and suffering. Though these works come from distinct cultural and geographical contexts, the Irish islands and the Bengal delta, both portray the nonhuman environment as an active force that influences human destinies, offering both sustenance and venture. In Riders to the Sea, the sea creates a recurring sense of loss and grief, experienced in ritualized ways. Maurya, who loses her sons to the sea, ultimately accepts this inevitable fate, showing remarkable endurance and strength in the face of nature’s overwhelming power. On the other hand, in The Boatman of the Padma, the river is both a dangerous place to work and a source of income. While its changing seasons help people make a living, they also bring risks like poverty and displacement.

These two works present different views of life: Synge’s perspective is spiritual and focused on fate, while Bandopadhyay’s is more about society and practical struggles. However, both highlight the strong connection between humans and nature. The study argues that landscapes like the sea and river play a significant role in shaping human lives, creating different ways in which people suffer and demonstrate resilience.

Keywords: Eco-criticism, Environmental agency, Human Struggle, Suffering, Riders to the Sea, The Boatman of the Padma

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