Existential Alienation in Arun Joshi’s The Foreigner: An Analysis

Abstract

Arun Joshi’s The Foreigner examines the theme of existential alienation through its protagonist Sindi Oberoi, a man who endures profound disconnection from himself, society, and cultural roots. Born in Kenya to an Indian father and English mother and educated across continents, Sindi epitomizes rootlessness and identity crisis, embodying the modern “foreigner” in both literal and existential terms. Joshi employs a complex narrative structure with flashbacks and intense psychological insight to probe Sindi’s emotional detachment and quest for meaning amidst loss and trauma. The novel is a seminal exploration of alienation as both social estrangement and inner spiritual void, highlighting the tension between involvement and detachment, love and hate, belonging and displacement. Sindi’s eventual struggle towards acceptance and responsibility signals a tentative reconciliation with existence, reflecting existentialist concerns with authenticity, freedom, and anguish. This study analyzes the manifestations of alienation in Joshi’s work, using textual evidence to demonstrate how the protagonist’s fragmented selfhood critiques modern dislocation and underscores the human condition’s enduring challenges. The Foreigner remains a landmark in Indian English literature for its existential depth and philosophical concerns.