The Search For Meaning in Postmodern Poetry

In a postmodern era with no universal truths or guiding values, lack of faith, scepticism, and relativism among individuals all lead to profound disorientation and fragmentation of worlds and identities in severe forms. As a result, individuals in the twenty-first century are compelled to take personal responsibility and exercise their freedom to create meaning in an otherwise absurd world through intentional choices and interactions. This dissertation explores the search for meaning in the poetry of Derek Walcott, Carol Ann Duffy, and Paul Muldoon through the ideas of Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy. The emphasis lies on how their efforts delve into the triad of pathways that lead to the exploration of meaning – creative, experiential and attitudinal pathways. Each poet draws upon their unique cultural and historical background, using poetry to confront life’s challenges and search for purpose. Walcott’s poetry reflects postcolonial struggles and cultural identity; Duffy’s pieces emphasize the transformative power of love and personal experience, while Muldoon’s postmodern style embraces creative expression to attain meaning. The study demonstrates how these poets employ their craft to explore individual and collective suffering, offering deep insights into the human quest for a meaningful life. By analysing their work through the lens of Logotherapy’s pathways, this book underscores the enduring relevance of poetry in confronting existential questions in a postmodern society.The postmodern landscape of the twenty-first century is often characterised by a profound existential unease. In the wake of postmodern thought, which interrogates grand narratives and universal truths, individuals are frequently left navigating a world that can appear fragmented, disoriented, and devoid of inherent guidance. This condition of scepticism and relativism, while liberating in its assertion of freedom, simultaneously imposes a weighty burden: the imperative to construct meaning personally in a universe that may seem intrinsically absurd. It is against this backdrop of cultural and philosophical pressure that the present study gains its urgency and relevance.