Unrequited love as the ultimate "uzalud"—the energy spent on someone who does not return it.

To help you draft an essay, I’ve outlined three distinct thematic approaches you could take, depending on the tone you want. Option 1: The Existential Perspective

The "uzalud" of modern hustle culture—working endlessly for a goal that doesn't actually bring happiness.

Explore "uzalud" in the context of love, art, and time. This is a common theme in Balkan poetry (like the works of Aleksa Šantić or Desanka Maksimović). Key Points:

A more cynical or analytical look at social change, war, or personal growth where efforts seem to loop back to the start. Key Points:

ethics as aesthetics in the prose of Danilo Kiš Nedeljkovic, M. - CORE