Published Paper Details:

This study examines the narrative and thematic similarities between the ancient Indian epic the Mahabharata and W.H. Auden's poem "The Shield of Achilles," "September 1, 1939," with an emphasis on how they both depict battle. With a focus on the dehumanizing consequences of dogma and tyranny, Auden's poem offers a meditation on the moral deterioration of civilization during the start of World War II. On the other hand, the Mahabharata offers a mythical picture of cosmic combat in which mortal fighters must resolve moral quandaries within the confines of cosmic order and divine will. Both narratives examine issues of responsibility, morality, and the effects of violence while having different literary traditions and cultural backgrounds. One learns more about the universal human experience of conflict and the ongoing battle to balance personal morality with the dictates of history and fate via this comparative analysis. The Mahabharata and Auden both explore the complexity of human struggle, touching on issues like moral ambiguity, the effects of bloodshed, and the existential crises brought on by battle. The Mahabharata and W.H. Auden's war narratives are compared, and the results provide important new perspectives on the moral complexity of war and the state of humanity