"Shabdangal" creates a "unity of impression" of the world as a mental asylum. This makes it a lengthy short story rather than a short novel, writes "Kesari" A. Balakrishnapillai in his introduction to the book. The literary technique of 'confession' is best suited to the story, because a first person narrative, without simultaneous comments and questions put forth by a thoughtful listener, would have been ineffective in this case. Interspersed in conversation are bits of descriptions of Nature's beauty; and questions as to the origin and evolution of the universe. These are dragged in deliberately; to enhance the effect of 'insanity' which pervades the atmosphere of the story; to contrast the beauty of Nature with the ugliness in various aspects of human life on earth; to demonstrate that physical questions like eradication of poverty and curing of disease are more important than metaphysical questions about the cosmos.