DOI: 1031705/g.2001(VE-. ISSN: 2663-5299 e ISSN: 2663-3841 LeASSWN: 2668-5299 ‘URL: hsp doi orf 0.31708 2001(V1 IN ‘Vol VI,No.M (Spring 2021) Pages: 94-100, ‘Citation: Nawac, A, Haz, M, & Anjum, K. M (2021), Postmodern Absurdst Critique of fulian Barnes's The Only Story. Global Language Review, VAUD), 94100. upsiida cious D je 20 } Postmodern Absurdist Critique of Julian Barnes's The Only Story Arshad Nawaz" ‘Muhammad Ijaz! Khalid Mehmood Anjum’ Abstract This research paper endeavors to examine the postmodern absurdism as a teary subgeare ia Postmodern fiction. It delves deep into the concept of absurdism by concentrating upon the characteristics that distinguith it as postmodern subgenre. Through the analysis ofthe postmodern novel The Only Story (2018), this research paper illastates how the characteristics of absurdivm have an impact upon a postmodern society characterized by boredom meaninglessness. fatty; and confusion, It also highlights how dfeent characters events, and places ave ben portrayed inthe _novelto depict he absurdity ofbuanan existence, The theoretical paradigms of the research is based upon ‘Thomas Nagel's say “The Absurd’ whichis about postmodern space of absurd and was presented 4a the American Philosophical Association Eastern Dison. The study limelights how the absurd ‘occurrences and bizare characters found inthe researcher’ primary text depict the complexity ofthe _pastaodernahsurd word in both eral and metaphoric dimeasions h Key Words: Postmodem Absurdism, Julian Barnes, The Absurd, The Only Story Introduction ‘his research paper explores absurdism and co production of postmodern society in The Only Story (2018) and asserts that absurdism cannot be Separated from postmodernism. This research is grounded on the theoretical framework of ‘The ‘Absurd (1971) that has been expounded by the selection ofthe text written by Jolin Barnes, The Only Story (2018). This tet gives a comprehensive ‘dea to understand absurdism under the heading of postmodernism and also laifes that how postmodern society hasits deep effects on the absurd subjects. Most of the researchers view absuedism fiom the theatres aspects in literature, but this research provides a postmodern angle to look at absurdism and also highlights its harmful effects on Leet + Viing Lecturer, Department of Pakistan cy. Furthermore, in contemporary fiction, absurdity as a topic is often been depicted communicated; however, this paper not only proclaims that we are caughtina tumultuous journey but also that we ourselves have divided the present day world and can't get away from the sentiment of estrangement and dislodging. As Thomas Nagel asserts, "Absurdity is one of the most human things about us: a manifestation of our most advanced and interesting characteristics’ (Nagel, 1971), Barnes's The Only Story(2018)is quite different from his previous fictional works as it depicts man’s absurdity and experience of lif’s awful powers, like anguish, estrangement, breakup, alienation, and purposelessness skirting either on agnosticism oF +, Department of English, Government College University Faisalabad Sub-Campus Hafzabad, Punjab, Pakistan. gli Literate, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Panjab, * Lecturer, Department of English, Riphah interational University Islamabad, Sub-Campus Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan, Emaik Khalidanjums00gmail com Gix