Human Relationship Assuages Identity Crisis:

A Critical Study of Ruskin Bond’s The Room on The Roof and Neil Simon’s The Prisoner Of Second Avenue

Abstract

The world progresses at an alarming rate hailing in many comforts and amenities that add to man’s bliss. Nevertheless it is not without its vice. To keep pace with the fast developments man is under duress to be creative, imaginative, illustrious and industrious which in due course of time take its toll on him. Ironically the facilities that are presumed to make his life easier have also contributed to his unease. The increase in societal demands and expectations prods man to push himself beyond his capabilities. With the rise in privileges he has sadly forgotten to be human. In search of name, fame and wealth he has become greedy, deceitful, hypocrite and lustful. Striving for betterment man has pathetically abandoned his legacy and heritage of goodness, values and principles. These complexities have made him forget what really is valuable, useful and needful. Caught in this web man has lost his hold on himself and his life and it makes him suffer from many maladies. These maladies result in depression, stress and anxiety. And once it reaches its breaking point man does not know who and what he is. He struggles with identity crisis as he tries to understand his surroundings. The complications have set man apart from the others making him drift alone. This is where human relationships come into the picture. When other things are fleeting, human relationships alone hold fort till the end working miracles and wonders. The concept is illustrated using Ruskin Bond’s The Room on the Roof and Neil Simon’s The Prisoner of Second Avenue. The protagonists Rusty and Mel strive with identity crisis – Rusty because of his upbringing and Mel because he loses his job. When all is lost they are brought back to meaningful and useful life through human relationships that make realize their worth and purpose.