Sita Sings The Blues

869 Words4 Pages
Amber Lay Mythology 10/5/2011 Reaction Paper There are many differences between the story of Rama and Sita given in the ‘The Ramayana’ and in the retelling through the movie “Sita Sings the Blues.” Although the retelling in the movie gave a general understanding of the myth of Sita and Rama, the book was able to give a more detailed version which gives a clearer picture of what Hindu culture interprets from these myths. There is also a modern day American romance in the movie which shows drastic differences between American and Hindu culture’s values and morals as well. The story of Rama and Sita in the book ‘ The Raymayana,’ begins when King Darsatha and one of his wives could not conceive; in desperation Darsatha prayed to Vishnu, who reincarnated himself into Rama as a son for the King. King Janka offered his daughter Sita’s hand in marriage to any prince who could break the unbreakable bow of Shiva; Rama succeeded. After the marriage of Rama and Sita, Darsatha’s second wife wanted her own son to be the heir and ordered Rama to be exiled. Rama willingly exiles himself in order to stay obedient to his father, which is an example of Hindu values and morals the ancient myths. After the willful exile of Rama, his brother Vakshmana and wife Sita follow Rama into the forest. In the retelling of the Hindu story, Darsmatha banishes his son forcefully which could be interpreted that modern society carries no regards to respecting one’s family. Hindu culture can be depicted as a male dominant culture through reading the original story of Rama and Sita which focuses much more on Rama’s role as the man. In the retelling, ‘Sita sings the blues,’ Sita is the main character, focusing on her love for Rama and the heartbreak she goes through. The retelling also depicts a modern day American romance in which a man gets a job in India leaving behind his spouse, but
Open Document