As the reader is introduced to Vali, we are reminded that Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu and as such was "subject to human limitations of understanding and the despairs arising therefrom" (91). The vast amount limitations Rama encounters and his growing desperation for Sita’s safe return are displayed many times throughout our reading. After Rama gains the trust of Sugreeva, he is notified of the most recent sighting of Sita and is given the jewels that she dropped down to Sugreeva as she was carried away in the sky. This is the first time (during this reading section) the reader is witness to a weak moment where Rama begins to cry and recounts his shame for not protecting his wife.
Throughout the reading, Rama reminds his subjects that his sole purpose in life is to protect good from evil and eradicate evil beings. Many times Rama beats himself down for not implementing this purpose in a way that could have saved Sita from capture. Because of his human limitations, I can understand why he feels upset with himself and desires to fix his mistakes, but dialogue from Ravana instilled in me questions of Ramas good fortune in human form. Ravana was speaking poorly of Rama while others were attempting to remind him of his divinity when he responded, “I am not afraid of Vishnu or anybody. Particularly Vishnu, who has been the most defeated god, having never won a single battle (127).” This statement confused me because as a human incarnation Rama has been very successful in his battles, winning every single one we have read. Maybe Ravana was attempting to trick himself into believing that Rama was not going to defeat him.
One of the few plot lines I was confused about was on page 111 where Sugreeva was laying on his bed with beautiful women surrounding him. Were those women monkey women or human women? If they were human women, why would a monkey find a human woman more attractive than one of their own race?
Another part that I found interesting but rather unsettling was when Vali was dying and all of a sudden he was at peace with his murder because Lakshmana explained why Rama did it? And then he was awakened with an instantaneous understanding of Ramas incarnation and said “He who has struck me is none other than the great God himself”......? How did he know that? Was it because he was in the process of dying and began to physically see Rama as Vishnu? I just thought it was a bit of a quick atonement for someone who just murdered you behind a tree...I guess many of my misunderstandings of the text could be due to plot that is lost in translation.
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