Lost Between Worlds: Youth Alienation, Existential Anxiety, and Identity Formation in Haro Aso’s Alice in Borderland
Miss. Pavitra Mugam
, Dr. Soni Tripathi
youth alienation, existentialism, social isolation, dystopian fiction, identity formation, contemporary youth, manga studies, Alice in Borderland
This paper explores youth isolation and emotional disconnection in Haro Aso's Alice in
Borderland (2010). Much of the scholarship has centered on the works and genre in terms of
adaptation studies, dystopian structures, and characterization; little has been done with the
representation of youth alienation, existential doubt, and the construction of identities in the
manga.
Drawing upon Melvin Seeman's theory of alienation and the existential philosophies of
Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, the study employs close textual analysis to investigate the
symbolic significance of the Borderland. The Borderland functions not only as a survival arena
but also as an existential space that embodies uncertainty, emotional fragmentation, and the
search for authentic identity. Through the experiences of Arisu and other major characters, the
manga explores themes of powerlessness, trauma, freedom, responsibility, and existential choice.
The setting becomes a mirror image of the loneliness and exclusion prevalent in society.
While the link to the stresses of modern life can sometimes be slightly overextended, the manga
still seems to highlight the importance of other individuals for getting by. This particular interpretation adds a layer of manga studies by synthesizing those concepts, despite an ambiguity
concerning the scope of their relation.
"Lost Between Worlds: Youth Alienation, Existential Anxiety, and Identity Formation in Haro Aso’s Alice in Borderland", JETNR - JOURNAL OF EMERGING TRENDS AND NOVEL RESEARCH (www.JETNR.org), ISSN:2984-9276, Vol.4, Issue 6, page no.a76-a80, June-2026, Available :https://rjpn.org/JETNR/papers/JETNR2606013.pdf
Volume 4
Issue 6,
June-2026
Pages : a76-a80
Paper Reg. ID: JETNR_234929
Published Paper Id: JETNR2606013
Downloads: 00084
Research Area: Medical Science All
Country: Noida/Gautam Buddha nagar, Uttar Pradesh , India
ISSN: 2984-9276 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.87 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2023
An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 9.87 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator
Publisher: RJPN (IJPublication) Janvi Wave
