Reading Notes: The Ramayana Part D

Part D was honestly my favorite reading of the Ramayana. I think it was the most detailed and had several surprises which made it more interesting. For example, I was wondering where Mandodari, the wife of Ravana was when he was capturing Sita. Also in this part Sita was very depressed, desperate, and frustrated. She wanted to commit suicide because she did not want to be with Ravana. Another thing that really stood out to me was that Ravana tried to trick Sita into moving on, by showing her a fake decapitated head of Rama. However, Sita was smarter than that and did not buy into his lies. She believed that her love was still alive. I think the most shocking but at the same time not so shocking thing was when Rama tested Sita to make sure she was pure. Sita stepped in fire to prove to him that she was pure. However, I do like the happy ending of Rama returning with Sita after several years of exile, to Ayodhya.

This part was very dramatic which made me immediately think of Romeo and Juliet. The part where Sita wanted to commit suicide is when the idea first came to my head. Also, what was not so shocking about Rama testing Sita about her purity is the culture. What I mean by this, is that In Pakistani culture I know purity is very important. For a man to be with a wife who is completely pure means so much. Most men do not want women who are impure because they want to be each other’s first and only. However, the passion that Sita had for Rama is the same passion Juliet had for Rama.

I do want to incorporate parts of Narayan's Ramayana and Romeo and Juliet to make an epic story.

Sita's Test By Fire

(Source: Wikipedia)

Bibliography:

Narayan's Ramayana, link to Reading Guide D.

Reading Notes: The Ramayana Part C

Part C of the Ramayana starts with Ravana tricking Sita into approaching him. Ravana picks up the ground they are standing on and flies away with her. Sita had dropped her jewelry and Sugriva gave it to Rama. He promised Rama he would help him find Sita. Time passed by and Sugriva forgot his promise.

Reading part C reminded me of the Cinderella story in a way. Cinderella lost her shoe at the strike of 12. The Prince found the shoe and wanted to find her. He sent out his advisory and his best men to go see what girl fits the shoe. My idea for this story is going to be like the Cinderella story. I would have “Princess Sista” come to Rama’s kingdom for a ball. She would go to this kingdom, regardless of her mother’s warning of never leaving her home. At the ball, Princess Sita would lose track of time because of what a good time she was having with Prince Rama. When she finally realized how it is should flea the ball as quickly as possible. On her way, out she would lose her gold ring that her mother passed down to her. The Prince would find the ring and go on a hunt to find his princess. However, he would be disheartened when the ring fits every girl that tries it on. He would not know how to tell which one is his princess.

I am a big fan of Cinderella. She is my favorite princess and hope I have several different idea on how I would want to end the story. I want to make sure to add somewhere in my story about Sugriva forgetting his promise. Maybe I will do this with the Prince’s adviser or the Prince’s best friend. Not sure yet.

Rama's Kingdom

(Source: British Library)

Bibliography:

Narayan's Ramayana, link to Reading Guide C.