Week 2: Reading Diary B

Rama's Departure:

Lakshmana cares about his brother's right to be king despite their evil mother that he is willing to go into exile with Rama and Sita. Not only has Lakshmana become enraged, people of the town appear ill and distraught over his departure. Lakshmana jokes about at least being allowed to leave into exile at their own pace. Rama shows a unique discipline to verbal agreements and the right of his other brother to be the king. The king's love for Rama was so much that his departure into the night ended his life.

Bharata:

Bharata has an amazing response to his mother's exile of Rama. Bharata is so upset that he vows to kill his mother, and only decides against it because of his devotion to Rama's beliefs. The land apparently goes without a king for over 5 days, only asking Bharata to become king after mourning. In Bharata's pursuit of bringing back Rama, he decides to bring a throng of citizens. I think this is setting him up for failure, as Rama has never been one to bend just because a large group of people request something. Is there something symbolic about wearing tree bark armor? Otherwise it seems as if the armor is just aesthetic.

Bharata's argument with Rama best represents the great man Rama is. They spend most of their time telling one another to whom the kingship belongs. The debate is so gentlemanly, and only ends once Rama convinces his brother to act as a temporary representative of Rama

ashram - a spiritual center of hermitage

Encounters in Exile:

The forest surrounding his land is apparently inhabited well enough that Rama must go deeper to successfully exile. He encounters a maiden related to the demon he is destined to defeat. Rama has a great moral compass to the point where he sees perfect beauty, yet still manages to feel uneasy about her motives. Despite her best attempts at loopholing the caste system, Rama remains professor-like in his discounting of her logic. I found it odd that Rama found this demon maiden so astonishingly attractive, but then when the demon maiden met Sita, she called out Sita for being too pretty to not be other-worldly. Rama also threatens the demon maiden with the appearance of his brother, instead of threatening to do something himself. Lakshmana was merciful enough to not kill this lady, but only cut off her ears, nose and breast! What mercy!

Soorpanka's need to accompany the trio through the forest seems to only foreshadow bad things to come once the demon maiden's family learns of what has happened to her beautiful face and breasts. The Ravana family is far too stubborn. You have Soorpanka who cannot be refused as a lover or a companion. Then the brothers are so set on proving a point that they will willingly be slaughtered by a single man. Ravanas need a little Rama in them.

Rama exhibits his superhuman fighting prowess, using a combo of bow and sword to single-handedly defeat demon squadrons. While I know Rama has had great training, it's strange to imagine someone who has lived mostly a city life having that kind of mercenary ability.

Ravana:
-Too quick to fall in love and envious, easily falls for Sita just based on a description.
- Volatile in his anger as well.
- Despite having a mutilated sister, he appears to be more concerned about stealing Sita then avenging Shurpanka.
- Cunning planner