Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Story Planning: Rama's Duty

One thing I noticed throughout the different versions of the Ramayana is that Rama didn't always treated Sita in the best way. In the video, I watched, the narrators and illustrators even commented on this by having Rama literally walk over Sita. For my story this week I want to focus on how I think Sita should have been treated. This will be a modern take on this classic story.

Setting: The setting for this story will be the scene right after Rama banishes Sita after finding out she is pregnant. He does this even though Sita has passed two purity tests, because he fears the baby is Ravanas. This scene irritated me, because when Rama was banished Sita gave up everything to go with him, but when Sita needed Rama he cast her out. 

My Twist: For my version of the story, I want Rama to be the one to seek Sita out. After he casts her out, I want him to go looking for her. In this story, I want to equalize the roles between Rama and Sita. In the original story, Sita wasn't very independent, in my version she will be. I think that this is a good way to modernize the story, while still holding true to the love story of Rama and Sita. After Rama banishes Sita a year passes and both Rama and Sita feel like something is "missing in their lives. Rama then leaves his brother in charge and goes in search of Sita. I want both Sita and Rama to realize they need each other. I don’t want to put all the fault on Rama in my story, so I feel like having them meet halfway is a good way to bridge the story.



Rama and Sita in Sita Sings the Blues. Web Source 



Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley

3 comments:

  1. Oh my word - Rama literally walked over Sita!? That is such a weird and unimaginable way of loving someone. I truly wonder what the thinking was behind all of this? I love how you want to change the original version of the story. It is like you are giving women a voice and power. I also like how you want to end the story with being equal. that is what relationships are all about - both parties involved need to be willing to give and take!

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  2. Hi Katie, I think you have a great plan for this story! Modernizing it will make it more relatable, and I think that will work well with the plot. I like how you want to equalize Rama and Sita and make them 'meet halfway'. Everyone can relate to struggle in a relationship. I am excited to come back and see what you did with this story! Good luck!

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  3. I never realized it but you’re right! It is pretty unfair between the two of them. I thought in the beginning they were like, two peas in a pod type of couple but maybe that was still the honeymoon phase? Why even get Sita back if he’s just going to banish her afterwards? I feel so bad for her! Poor Sita!

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