Subjective Truth and The Leap of Faith: A Textual Analysis of Updike’s Terrorist

Kierkegaard’s existential theory that an individual with faith truly exists correspond to his idea of subjective truth that prompts the individual to take leap of faith. The current paper explores the treatment of truth in Updike’s Terrorist from theoretical perspective of Kierkegaard’s concept of subjective truth. After conducting textual analysis of the novel, we have come to understand that the higher truth is subjective and functions in an individual in such a way that he is ready to live or die for it. We also found out that passionate inwardness and commitment with the truth is necessary and truth develops with the passage of time according to the turn of events in the life of an individual, the way it happened in the life of Ahmad. Updike’s treatment of truth and its reshaping with the realization and understanding of Ahmad is tantamount in understanding how Kierkegaard is still relevant today.