Dominique Lapierre’s The City of Joy as an Echo of the Darker side of Humanity

Abstract

Art is a selective recreation of reality. French literature is one of the most brilliant and most influential components of the Western literature. Dominique Lapierre as a French writer is gifted with extra ordinary ability to discuss the realistic aspects of human life. Lapierres The City of Joy is an epitome of humanity. It is an unnerving portrait of poverty, a moving human drama and a kaleidoscopic picture of Calcutta. It also reveals how people learn despite incredible difficult odds to survive, to share and to love. This paper attempts to analyze the message of love for humanity is beyond religion and culture and also tries to present the cruel face of dowry, which is a burning social problem and the terrible trials encountered by the characters because of this heinous evil.