This is really a two parter today for my blog. First, while I didn't enjoy the work much, I would really like to point out how special it is to get to read Kalidasa's story about Sakuntala. Apparently this play was written sometime between 350-500 C.E. (or A.D. for Mr. Bahlmann). While it was certainly a celebrated work in India and for practitioners of Hindu everywhere, it wasn't until 1789 that it was translated into English for the first time. That means that for nearly 1500 years it was impossible for someone who spoke only English to read this story. It is just amazing to think about someone that was writing his version of a well known story in his area for a performance on stage. We don't even know how grand a production this was supposed to be. But, he wrote this play, performed it in front of a group of people over 1500 years ago, and probably never even considered that people from far in the future would still be discussing his work today in a language he never knew existed. It really is pretty amazing.
On to the second part. I found it interesting that Sakuntala forgives King Dusyanta as quickly as he shows up. This is a girl (maybe a woman by the end of the story) who gave up everything important in her life for love. What was her reward? She was rejected and denied by her one true love. Now who hasn't had their heart broken at some point in their life? When it happens, I think everybody wishes that it was just a bad dream or a mistake which will soon be fixed. But usually, it just doesn't work out like that.
It is hard for me to understand why Sakuntala allows herself to be taken in by Dusyanta so quickly again. I know that eventually she learns that King Dusyanta had been cursed, but that comes way after she has already forgive him. Maybe that really does make her the ideal girl (at least for sadists). It is lucky that King Dusyanta really does love her, because apparently he can just inflict as much pain and humiliation on her as he wants. She will keep willingly coming back for more. Does love mean that you always have to forgive? Is there no wrong that is too wrong? I guess in Sakuntala's world the answer is yes to both questions.
I don't know if a version of a story similar to this could be written in the modern world today. Who would ever believe in a heroine portrayed in such a way? We have all seen couples in disfunctional relationships where one partner is continually walked over by the other. However, we don't celebrate it. The story is what the story is, and Kalidasa probably didn't want to make too many changes to the original plot. But, I wish that one of the gods would have explained to Sakuntala that she had been cursed by Durvasas. Maybe then she could have forgiven him and it would have seemed like an outcome that was even possible. She still couldn't have gone after him without possessing the ring to reveal the truth, but her immediate forgiveness upon seeing him would have held more truth for me.
I'm hoping that our in-class discussion has helped to broaden your view of this issue. The truth is that Sakuntala's forgiveness may never sit well with most modern readers, but we need to try to understand where these characters are coming from and how that is a reflection of the culture.
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