Famous Last Words for Week 3

So this week we finished the first version of the Ramayana that we are covering. I felt like I really learned a lot about the character of Hanuman this week!  I really am starting to enjoy reading my classmates Storybooks because it gives me insight to see how others perceive the characters. My favorite story was in the Storybook of Brandon and he wrote from Hanuman’s perspective throughout his journey to rescue Sita. I felt that I perceived the personality of Hanuman very similar to what Brandon did. He is a very loyal friend and servant of Rama. I also went a bit overboard this week with my Pinterest with Hanuman. As it turns out, many Pinners out there have a board specially designated for Hanuman so he must be a very influential character in Indian mythology.

I am really looking forward to read the Ramayana again next week from a different author. I am hoping it will give me new insight on the characters in this epic. I am also starting to get a hang on my website. I still have a lot to learn and I want to make it much prettier but I believe I have picked the theme I am going to stick with for my project!

At the beginning of this week, the weather was extremely beautiful so I went roller blading on campus. I usually go with a couple of friends that like to run but since I have pre-arthritic knees I am unable to run. Thus, I roller blade! We went all over the south oval and we stopped to get a drink inside so I chose to post a picture of me inside Kaufman Hall (I didn't roller blade all over the building like I made it look). I love being outside especially since I feel like my life is consumed with studying. It really helps calm my nerves. 

Personal photo of me skating on campus

Week 3: Potential Storybook Styles

Topic. My storybook will be about Indian Epic love stories. My goal is to compile four different love stories and speak in a first person point of view or maybe a third person point of view. Some of them may be told by the males, others may be in the view of the females; it just depends on how I am feeling that day. I want to bring different sides into view because men and women often have different thoughts when it comes to falling in love. If I did not choose to do first person point of view and did third person, I would make it like you were reading a children’s storybook.

Possible Styles:

Cupid. Because my Storytelling will be based on epic love stories, I feel that cupid must be included. Cupid is associated with Valentine’s day which is centered around love; thus I feel it is necessary to include cupid in all of them. I would also like to have a story only about cupid because if we have more background on his history then I can somehow integrate him into my other stories easier.

Journal Entries. I think it would be really great to write in a journal entry form. As many of us have experienced, it is really great to write about your feelings in a journal. As for love stories, I think this would be a perfect view because it would allow us to really tell the characters emotions! If I did this, I would switch off between both characters so we can see both sides.

Fairy Tales. As with many Disney movies and other fairy tales, I would love to start with a “Once Upon a Time…” Often times in real life our “love stories” don’t end up with a happily ever after. I think it would be really refreshing to hear about a story that ends in a “Happily Ever After” format. It may seem a bit cheesy, but I like it!

Different Cultures. Although this is an Epics of India course, I think it would be pretty fun to convert these Indian Epics into different stories that take place in other cultures. For example, I would have a couple from Spain, China, Italy, etc. Of course, I would either start the story in India or have them move to India throughout the course of their love story because I want to integrate the Indian culture into the story!

(Image of Cupid Found Online)

Bibliography:

1. Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic.

2. Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.

Week 3 Storytelling: Sita in Lanka

Right now I am in Lanka. I have been here for approximately six months and I haven’t eaten in a week or two. I am so skinny from being so hungry all the time. Ravana constantly is trying to get me to submit to him but I love Rama and will continue to stay pure for him. I have faith that he will come find me, but it is hard to keep hope when it has been so long.  

The journey to the island of Lanka was brutal. There were numerous storms and the waves were huge getting across that I thought we might drown. When we finally arrived to Lanka I thought that they were going to kill me, but they just put me in a garden with demons surrounding me.  I could hear all of the terrible things that the demons were saying about Rama but at least I knew he was still alive.

I am beginning to become severely depressed; although that may seem obvious I have actually been very hopeful because I know that Rama has a heart of perseverance and will come save the woman he loves. Last week Ravana was actually starting to be nice to me which was a bit of a shock since he’s typically very forceful. I sometimes question my feelings towards him when he tried to woo me but I quickly remember Rama and his loving, nurturing soul.

The Rakshasis that are guarding me are starting to feel bad for me. It is almost as if they want to become my friend and help me. Maybe that is just my hopeful side thinking again. I hope that they won’t torture me and if they do kill me that it will be a quick and painful death.

Today I overheard them talking about Rama getting close with the Hanuman helping him. My heart is leaping for joy.  I can feel his presence near! I am dreading the full out war that will begin as soon as he arrives but I know that he will defeat Ravana with no problem. I overheard the Rakshasis talking about Rama forcing the god of water to build a bridge so that he could come to Lanka. He is getting so close now. I hope that he will not question my purity with Ravana. If so, I will do whatever it takes to prove to him that he is my one true love.

Author's Note: I decided to write in the point of view from Sita because I felt like I don’t know her character very well. Throughout most of the episodes, she is mentioned but quite briefly; we don’t get a strong sense of her emotions and that’s what I want! I chose to depict her as a strong woman, but yet to show that all people (despite their strength) can be discouraged when faced with difficult situations. Being abducted is a situation that none of us would know how to respond in unless we personally endured it. The pictures I posted is a picture of Sita sitting in the garden. Although it may look like she’s peaceful, I think it is because she is forced to be calm as a woman in her society and, most importantly, as a prisoner of Ravana. As depicted in this story, she is coming close to ending her life because she is in misery without her love, Rama. I feel that anyone would be overwhelmed with sadness if they were torn away from their loved ones without warning. However, she is still holding onto the hope that Rama is near because she overheard her guards talking about his arrival. That is where the glimmer in her eye comes from. I plan to integrate characters from the Ramayana that we haven’t learned much about (emotionally), starting with Sita.

 

(Photo found online)

Bibliography: Narayan R.K (1972) The Ramayana

Week 3 Reading Diary B: Hanuman Finds Sita

Hanuman, after he turns into a giant monkey and crosses the sea, eventually finds Sita. She is in a garden feeling pretty low. He showed her Rama’s ring to prove he was there for her and so she agreed not to hurt herself.  Ravana is angry and so he tries to hurt Hanuman and burns his tail. In return, Hanuman burns down Lanka.  Hanuman eventually comes back and tells Rama that Sita is in Lanka. Because Rama cannot make himself big enough to step across the sea like Hanuman did, he has to make a bridge. He orders the sea god to help him cross.

What I liked about his episode is the way that Ravana went about to try and scare people. This shows his true character—dishonest. He attempted to make it look like Rama was dead by showing Sita a decapitated head just after discussing his men as monkeys. Eventually, after giving him a chance to surrender, Rama finally defeats Ravana. The end of this episode is my favorite because it shows Rama’s true character. Not only does he question the loyalty of Sita while she was away, but he throws a grand funeral for Ramaya. I am looking forward to seeing how different authors depict Rama as a character because he is definitely my favorite character from these episodes!

I chose to post a picture of Hanuman and Rama because Rama can finally marry Sita and he could not have done it without Hanuman. The loyalty of a friend is truly remarkable. 

(Photo found online)

Week 3 Reading Diary A: Ravana Abducts Sita

The reading for Diary A starts out with Sita’s abduction by Ravana. He had disguised himself as an old man and flew away with her. When Rama returns, he sets off to find her immediately. What I enjoyed about this reading is that it is a bridge between Week 2 reading and Diary B of week 3 because it is about the journey that Rama has endured in order to find Sita.  It begins with Sita’s abduction and shows the endurance and loyalty that Rama must face in order to get help to find her.

Rama agrees to help Sugriva for his help in return to find Sita. I liked that Rama agreed to help him out of empathy since Sugriva had his wife stolen by Vali after his exile. So, Rama agrees to help Sugriva defeat Vali. Hanuman also agreed to help Rama in his search for Sita. Sugriva becomes king after Vali is killed by Rama.

A few seasons later, Rama sends Lakshmana to find Sugriva and Ramana to help find Sita as he had promised. He sends out large search parties and armies. They encounter a nymph that told them the last place she saw Sita. Part A ends with Hanuman growing so large that he can step across the ocean to Lanka where they believe Sita may be located.

(Photo of Rama and Hanuman found online)

I chose a picture of Hanuman displaying his loyalty to Rama. In this episode Hanuman has shown his loyalty to Rama by helping him in his journey to find Sita.