THE SILENT DIALOGUES: A PSYCHOLOGICAL READING OF SOLITUDE IN GITANJALI THROUGH BOWLBY’S ATTACHMENT THEORY

Abstract

This paper explores The Silent Dialogues: A Psychological Reading of Solitude in Gitanjali through John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory. It examines the theme of solitude in Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali by using Bowlby’s psychological framework. The study investigates how emotional attachment and the internal working models outlined by Bowlby—originally concerned with early child-caregiver bonds—can illuminate the poet’s experience of solitude and spiritual self-reflection. According to this paper, solitude is a complex psychological condition shaped by attachment processes, such as the presence or absence of secure emotional bonds. Through the unspoken aspects of Gitanjali, this paper analyzes the poet’s feelings of aloneness, particularly as they relate to emotional experiences of loss and separation. These feelings resonate with Bowlby’s theory, which explains how people respond to the loss of close relationships. Therefore, through a psychological lens, we can better understand the deeper meaning behind the poet’s loneliness. This study incorporates Bowlby’s major concepts—such as the importance of early emotional connection, the effects of deprivation, and the development of internal working models—into a thematic exploration of solitude in Gitanjali.