Toru Dutt (Lakshman),
Shri Aurobindo(To a Hero Worshiper)
R. Tagore (Dino Daan)
This blog is a task given by Megha ma'am Department of English M.K.B.U. In this blog we were assigned to write any question given in the task. In this blog I am going to write about the character of Sita portrayed by Toru Dutt in her poem Lakshman as it differs from the ideal image of Sita presented in The Ramayana.
Toru Dutt
Toru Dutt (4 March 1856 – 30 August 1877) was an Indian Bengali translator and poet from British India, who wrote in English and French. She is among the founding figures of Indo-Anglian literature, alongside Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809–1831), Manmohan Ghose (1869–1924), and Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949). She is known for her volumes of poetry in English, Sita, A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields (1876) and Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan (1882), and for a novel in French, Le Journal de Mademoiselle d'Arvers (1879). Her poems explore themes of loneliness, longing, patriotism and nostalgia.
Born in Calcutta, Dutt was a precocious child who learned English, French, and Sanskrit at a young age. In 1869, her family moved to Europe, where she spent four years studying and traveling. Dutt returned to India in 1873 and began writing seriously. She published her first book of poems, A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields, in 1876. Her second book of poems, Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan, was published posthumously in 1882.
Dutt's poetry is notable for its blending of Indian and Western influences. She drew on her knowledge of Hindu mythology and folklore to create poems that were both exotic and accessible to English readers. Her work was praised by critics for its originality and its lyrical beauty.
Dutt died of tuberculosis in 1877 at the age of 21. Her early death was a tragedy for Indian literature, but her brief career left a lasting legacy. She is considered to be one of the most important figures in the development of Indo-Anglian poetry.
Introduction of the poem
The poem "Lakshman" is from Dutt's Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan (1882). It tells a story from the Hindu epic Ramayana, in which the hero Rama is told to procure a golden deer for his wife, Sita. After Rama leaves Sita with his brother, Lakshman, for safekeeping, he finds out that the deer is actually a demon and kills it. However, when the demon dies, it calls out for help using Rama's own voice. Though Lakshman knows Rama is invincible and does not worry, Sita panics at the sound of the cry for help and asks Lakshman to go and investigate. So that he can both please Sita and also ensure that she stays put, as ordered by Rama, Lakshman draws a line in the ground that Sita is not to cross while he leaves to search for Rama. While he is absent, however, Sita crosses the line and is abducted by the demon king Ravana.
Q-Do you think the character of Sita portrayed by Toru Dutt in her poem Lakshman differs from the ideal image of Sita presented in The Ramayana?
.jpeg)
Toru Dutt's portrayal of Sita in her poem "Lakshman" differs from the ideal image of Sita presented in The Ramayana in several ways.
One of the most notable differences is that Dutt's Sita is more human and vulnerable than the ideal Sita. In The Ramayana, Sita is often portrayed as a perfect goddess, who is always calm, composed, and unwavering in her faith. Dutt's Sita, on the other hand, is more complex and relatable. She is capable of feeling a wide range of emotions, including anger, fear, and despair.
Toru Dutt’s Lakshman captures this moment of failure in all the three characters of Ramayana. Sita accuses Lakshman for his delay in going out to save Rama. Sita’s mind changes and she accuses Lakshman of being disloyal to his brother” she accuses Lakshman by telling him that he wanted to marry his brother’s wife. There is a parallel narrative like this in Ramayana where Bali, the ruler of the vanara kingdom Kishkindha ostracized his brother Sugriva from his Kingdom and forcibly took Sugriva’s wife Ruma.
Sita’s character in the poem ‘Lakshman’ may not be strictly in keeping with her portrayal in the Ramayana, but it is in accordance with human nature, and shows the working of a woman’s mind. In the poem she does not appear as an idealized queen, but as a woman, who behaves as a woman in her condition ought to be. She acts impulsively and easily falls in the trap laid down for her by Ravana, the tricky and mighty king of Lanka.
In the beginning Sita is mild, gentle and unsuspecting and has full faith in Lakshman’s sincerity and loyalty towards her and Rama. But later on her temper changes and she becomes wild and fierce in reaction to Laksman’s lethargy in action. Instead of feeling convinced by Lakshman’s arguments, Sita becomes suspicious of his words, and begins to doubt the very sincerity and truthfulness of his feelings towards her and Rama. Sita thinks that Lakshman has an evil eye on her and is an enemy in disguise. Further, she thinks that he wants Rama’s death, so that he may possess his wife for himself. She begins to hurl bitter sarcastic words at him, and openly accuses him of treachery, deceit, guilt, insincerity and cowardice. Side by side with Rama’s safety, she now begins to think of her own safety from the enemy in Lakshman.
Another difference between Dutt's Sita and the ideal Sita is that Dutt's Sita is more outspoken and assertive. In The Ramayana, Sita is typically portrayed as a submissive and obedient wife. She always follows Rama's instructions, even when she does not agree with them. Dutt's Sita, on the other hand, is more independent and willing to stand up for herself.
For example, when Lakshman tells Sita that he must go out to help Rama, Sita refuses to let him go. She is terrified of being left alone in the forest, and she begs Lakshman to stay with her. Lakshman tries to reason with her, but Sita refuses to listen. She tells him that she is his mistress and that he must obey her commands.
This scene shows that Dutt's Sita is not afraid to challenge authority, even when that authority comes from someone she loves and respects. She is a strong and independent woman who is willing to stand up for her own needs and desires.
Finally, Dutt's Sita is more complex and nuanced than the ideal Sita. In The Ramayana, Sita is often portrayed as a one-dimensional character. She is the perfect wife, the perfect mother, and the perfect goddess. Dutt's Sita, on the other hand, is a more well-rounded character. She has strengths and weaknesses, and she is capable of making mistakes.
For example, when Sita first sees the golden deer, she is immediately infatuated with it. She begs Rama to catch it for her, even though Rama knows that the deer is a demon in disguise. Sita's infatuation with the deer leads to her abduction by Ravana, and it is one of the main causes of the conflict in The Ramayana.
This scene shows that Dutt's Sita is not perfect. She is capable of making mistakes, and she is not always immune to temptation. However, her mistakes do not make her any less of a person. She is still a loving wife, a devoted mother, and a courageous woman.
conclusion
In conclusion, Toru Dutt's portrayal of Sita in her poem "Lakshman" differs from the ideal image of Sita presented in The Ramayana in several ways. Dutt's Sita is more human and vulnerable, more outspoken and assertive, and more complex and nuanced than the ideal Sita. These differences make Dutt's Sita a more relatable and believable character.
Some important points:
Dutt's Sita is more human and vulnerable than the ideal Sita.
Dutt's Sita is more outspoken and assertive than the ideal Sita.
Dutt's Sita is more complex and nuanced than the ideal Sita.
Dutt's Sita is a more relatable and believable character.
It is also important to note that Dutt's poem was written in the late 19th century, a time when there was a growing movement for women's rights in India. Dutt's portrayal of Sita can be seen as a reflection of this movement, as she presents Sita as a strong and independent woman who is not afraid to challenge authority.
Sources
Stewart, Amber. Alex Spencer Cohen ed. "Toru Dutt: Poetry “Lakshman” Summary and Analysis". GradeSaver, 16 May 2020 Web. 19 September 2023.
T, Meenakshi. “Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL).” The Protected Threat - A Reading of Toru Dutt’s Poem “Lakshman,” vol. 4, no. 2016, 2016, doi:10.33329/rjelal.
[Words-1,511]
No comments:
Post a Comment