NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
... ita objects with an air of frustration. This is shown in the following quote Sita became insistent and said sullenly, < < You will never get it, I Know, > > and turned round and went back into hermitage, annoyed and irritated. (The Ramayana, p 97) Even when Rama, a man she loves more than life itself, is threatened by her decision she still sticks by it. Not only does she stick by her decision, but huffs and puffs in order to get her way. She really seems to be pushing the fates with her behavior.
She might as well just walk into the forest with a big bulls-eye painted on her back, and a huge sign saying Take me Ravana, take me now. What is peculiar about this event is that Rama: a character who seems to have some inner knowledge about Dharma, Karma, and so forth; does not see the err of Sita's ways. Up to this point of the story, Rama gives the impression of having a strong grasp over what is right and wrong, and comes off as being anything but rash. Yet, during this crucial situation, the crisis of the story, he makes the mistakes of a rookie hero. It is during this decisive occurrence that the reader becomes aware of how human Rama, re-incarnation of Vishnu, really is.
He does not consider the repercussion of his actions, frankly one could argue that he doesnt really seem to think at all during, as the narrator puts it, a crucial moment in their lives. (The Ramayana, p 97) From the moment that he hears Sita's demand to the moment right before he kills Mareecha, Rama is completely blinded by his love for his wife. It is this love, and his guilt about his wife who un grudgingly through in her lot with his (The Ramayana, p 97) when he was exiled, that leads him astray. What is even more perplexing is that Rama pays little attention to what Lakshmana has to say, even though her is his brother who has been by his side since birth, and who also through in his lot with him. Taken this one step further, Lakshmana's reasoning seems infallible; one would have to be an ignoramus, not too appreciate the logic behind his arguments.
An example of this is shown in the following quote We cant go after it when we do not know who has set it before us. If its harmless, it would be wrong to hunt it. In any case, it is best to keep away from it. (The Ramayana, p 97) This is wisdom on two levels, the first being that it could be a trap, and the second being that if it is a harmless creature of nature then what right do they have to imprison it. These clever words have no effect on Rama, and yet, oddly enough, after Mareecha final attempt at deceiving Sita, this is what Rama believes: Lakshmana will help her to guess what has happened for he admired Lakshmana's sagacity and understanding (The Ramayana, p 98). He admits to admiring his brothers sagacity, even depends on it to keep Sita safe, yet had just completely ignored it barely a moment before. In the end, Rama has two choices: 1) listen to his brother, which in essence is listening to reason; or 2) succumb to his wifes fancies, to his guilt, to his emotions, and act without thinking about consequences.
The following passage clearly presents his final decision: Rama brushed aside his argument. < < Its harmless to pursue it. If it is some infernal creature in this form, it will reveal itself when it is shot at. If it is not we will take it intact and Sita will have a plaything. Either way we cannot ignore it. > > (The Ramayana, p 97) His lack of thinking things through is quite evident, and it is his bad judgment that helps to move along the series of events that Sita began. As Karma would have it, instead of Rama making the deer, his wifes plaything, his wife becomes a toy to his mortal enemy. Talk about retribution.
Lakshmana's role, during this crucial moment, appears to be the voice of reason. From the moment that Sita requests the deer as a pet to the moment that he is faced with his moral dilemma (Sita's suicide vs. Sita's possible abduction), his judgements are correct. Yet, when faced with making his own decision, he too fails miserably. One could contend that his choice was the hardest one to be made when compared to the other two, and one would make a very good case, but that does not excuse his mistake.
It is at pivotal moments such as this one that a true hero, a man of virtue, should shine. Instead, the following passage is the answer given, This very second Ill leave. I only hesitated because your order goes against the command of my brother. Ill go, and may the gods protect you from harm. (The Ramayana, p. 99) Ah yes, may the gods protect you, Lakshmana, from your lack of judgment in what ends up being your most influential decision.
He should have seen her statement for what it truly was, a desperate attempt to get her way. Why was it that he was able to see through so many other illusion, and yet could not see this one. The following citation presents to the reader Lakshmanas reasoning: If I dont go, she will kill herself, If I go, she will be in danger. Id rather be dead than facing such a dilemma Ill go, and what is destined will happen.
Dharma alone should protect her (The Ramayana, p 100) Lakshmana reasoning is flawed on two levels, the first being as previously stated, that he should have seen through her bratty bluff. The second, being that Sita's Dharma level had just taken quite a fall from her own actions during this scene, so how was it going to do anything, but seal her fate. Was he not paying attention? Where was the sagacity and understanding that gave cause to Ramas admiration?
Or did he just cave under pressure? The golden deer episode is a crucial moment in the story for many reasons. The most obvious being that it is the crisis point of the story, where a single decision made will radically change the body of the story. Another important aspect of this scene is that each characters humanity becomes abundantly apparent, through their flawed judgements. It is clear that Sita's initial choice of pushing for the golden deer is what sets in motion a series of events that can only lead to her own undoing. Then pushing Lakshmana to help Rama, by threatening to build a fire and jump in it, seals her fate.
A fate that is only truly over when she actually does builds a fire in order to jump in it and prove herself to Rama, and the world. It is also clear that both Rama and Lakshmana had ample opportunity to stop these events and uncharacteristically chose otherwise. What is not evident is why both characters chose judgments that were inconsistent with their traits. In Ramas case, we later see him making another uncharacteristic decision when he is cold towards his wife at the end of the story.
This evidence would suggest that his flawed judgments, his humanity if you will, becomes perceptible in matters involving his wife, and therefore matters of the heart. Lakshmana, on the other hand, has no excuse other than caving under pressure. His decision was the hardest to be made, but he had been the voice of reason throughout the scene, when in dealing with other characters decisions. This could be interpreted as symbolizing that it is often easier to see someone else faulty judgment, than your own.
It could also indicate that perhaps The Fates were at work and this was to be a crucial moment in their lives. (Ramayana, p 97) This would easily explain how after Sita's initial bad judgement, destiny came in and led Rama and his brother to make uncharacteristic decisions in order to punish Sita, kill Ravana, and make the world a happier place. Realistically though, The choices we make, not the chances we take, determine our destiny! (unknown) Bibliography Narayan, R. K. The Ramayana. New Delhi: Vision Books, 1987.
Free research essays on topics related to: ramayana, series of events, p 97, sita, rama
Research essay sample on Series Of Events P 97
