Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part B

Ramayana Notes Part B:

  • Bharata Returns: I love the contrast of having the unmoved mother and the tearful young man. The villain only survives because she is a woman and her murder would not entreat the men to the protagonist.
  • Dasharatha's Funeral: What better way to express the sadness and calamity of the King's death than by saying even the celestial body of the sun is visibly saddened. "sallow countenance". "bewailed". Comparison of Rama the king to the Lion the king of the beasts. Animal-swap retelling? "The city appeareth unto me like the night deprived of the moon." ascetic. This chapter has been very diligent on expressing elements of every sense, especially smell (sandalwood). Also sound (music, wailing).
  • Rama and Bharata: It really speaks to Rama's character that he refuses to return despite his father's death (reminiscent of the scene in Thor where Loki says his first act as king cannot be to undo his father's last). What if Rama wasn't so strong and gave in? Whoa this got existential. A good man is distinguished from an evil man by his deeds.
  • The Sandals: Symbolic golden sandals.
  • Anasuya: "pure-souled pious princess" great alliteration! 
  • Viradha: damsel in distress (Sita). Conflict! Beast immediately recognizable via numerous negative traits: frightful/deformed/disgusting/dreadful/misshapen/horrible/besmeared/piercing. Still irritating that Sita's only character traits are her devotion to Rama and her "transcendentally beauteous" nature. "Tremble from fear like a plantain tree shaken by the wind." The brothers shower blazing arrows, the rakshasa yawns- comic relief. Story Idea: what if Sita's being a badass in the background and ends up kicking his butt instead of the boys. Again, instead of "died", other verbage: "attained heaven". 
  •  Agastya: The three "biggies" are mentioned as gifts are bestowed: Vishnu, Brahma, Indra. Sita is a "pale and drooping blossom" UGH she is a strong woman I'm sure. Too bad this story roots all of her positive qualities in her relation to a man. This story would NOT pass the Bechdel Test.
  • Shurpanakha and Rama: Wow A the og woman isn't good enough and B the other woman is playing the part of an evil temptress. There is NO element of sisters before misters in this tale.
  • Lakshmana and Shurpanakha: Again, Rama's fighting Sita's battles. 
  • Battle with Khara: Foreshadowing: "evil were the omens...jackals howling and birds screaming, blood-red sky".  UGH Sita's reappearance is just to kiss Rama in a nauseating fairy tale kiss. The feminist in me is frustrated.
  • Shurpanakha and Ravana: voluptuous. tawny. "Like some mawkish saint tasting celestial beatitude". Sita has graduated to being both Rama and Lakshmana's weak spot. The wind caught up the sound and spoke.
  • Ravana and Maricha: the motivation is explained- Ravana intimidates Maricha until he agrees out of fear. The deer is created and the description of it is decadent and beautiful, as the creature must be.
  • The Golden Deer: Wow Sita's first words in over a dozen chapters are to ask Rama to carry out a favor for her.
  • The Chase: Lakshmana insults Sita and all women and she responds with tears. Lordy this woman needs a 21st century makeover. She says she is nothing without a man, threatening suicide if Rama doesn't survive. 
  • Ravana and Sita: I'm enjoying the mythology of Rakshasas- their shapeshifting is really cool (and reminiscent of Marvel's Skrull aliens). 
  • Jatayu and Ravana: Like in Narnia, the trees/other nature elements can be used to the protagonist's aid as resources/communicators. Ravana has a grudge-match with a vulture. Sita, still unable to do anything to help her situation, drops the equivalent of breadcrumbs for Rama.
  • Sita in Lanka: beautiful backdrop contrasts against melancholy mood. Also, CONSENT
  • Rama and Jatayu: I'm glad that Rama's borderline toxic masculinity complex isn't so strong as to prevent his tears upon the loss of his love. Rama addresses the chaos and suffering that seems to follow him, feeling guilty and responsible. 
  • Kabandha: imprisoned in a demon's body, he is freed and then offers information in the form of a miniquest: to find the ape chief on Rhishyamukha.
  • Shabari: a noble, pious woman and a location that may or not be stuck in a time loop- never aging, just waiting.
    Image Info: Bharata falling to his feet to greet and beg Rama for his return.
    Source: https://www.hariome.com/why-rama-refused-to-come-back-from-forest-after-the-death-of-dasaratha/


Bibliography:
      Ramayana:
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