Week 2 Reading Diary: Narayan's "The Ramayana"

In reading this text, one of the most striking plot devices was the punishment of women during Viswamitha's stories to Rama and Lakshmana and during their encounter with Thataka. I believe that in describing how Thataka is tainted with power and "loses all consideration to be treated as a woman" the narrative foreshadows the way that Rama treats his wife near the end of the narrative. It is even presented as a divine right when Vishnu is described as slaying women who stood against is righteous crusade against the asura. It is almost as though Viswamithra's teachings and the past lives of Vishnu himself are all meant to make the demise of his relationship with Sita inevitable.
This part of the story is also presented as a major stepping stone for Rama as he loses his innocence at the moment that he kills Thataka. For those who are familiar with the entire story, it is interested to note how this loss of innocence effects Rama's ability to decide when killing is just which is particularly important when he faces the monkey king and Ravana later during his journey.

(Thataka, princess turned demoness)

Another interesting element in Narayan's book is his use of separate narratives within the main story. Through Viswamithra, he uses the past lives of Vishnu to add more depth and mysticism to the already detailed settings portrayed in the story. Rama's destiny as a vanquisher of evil is also further cemented by the stories of good and evil proposed by the guru.

Author: R. K. Narayan