Reading Notes: Tiny Tales Ramayana, Part B
I just finished reading part B of the Tiny Tales Ramayana! There was a lot of adventure and interesting things in this part. When I decide my retelling, if I did anything from part B it would be the kidnapping of Sita. That was the most gripping part for me, but it also had me shaking my head at the decisions she made.
First it all started when Ravana's sister Shurpanakha wanted to marry Rama, and then tried to attack Sita. Lakshmana went at her with his sword and ended up mutilating her face. She ran away, and her cousins Khara and Dushana tried to avenge her by fighting Rama and his brother.
The two brothers defeated Khara, Dushana and their army of rakshasas. Word about this got back to Ravana, who decided he would punish who had done by taking their wife, in this case Sita. So Ravana went to Maricha and made him agree to lure Rama away from Sita by taking the form of a golden deer. While Rama was away, Ravana would take Sita for himself. Maricha agreed only because only because he felt forced, he was afraid of Rama having seen him kill his mother.
When Sita saw the golden deer, she asked Rama to catch it for her as a pet. Lakshmana told Rama it was a trick, because golden deer don't exist, but Rama went after it anyway. The deer shouted in Rama's own voice for help when Rama shot it (confused on why he shot it if Sita wanted it for a pet...). This made Lakshmana go after Rama, and he drew a line of protection around the hut and told Sita not to cross it.
Of course, she did cross it, because she thought she was helping a man but it was actually Ravana in disguise. He revealed himself and took her away in his flying chariot. The eagle Jatayu tried to save her but ended up dying himself.
Ravana took Sita to his home in Lanka, and declared that he would make her love him and she would become his new chief wife.
I really do wonder what Sita was feeling through all of this, she would have to be scared. If I use this part for my retelling, I would want to go more into her emotions.
Bibliography: Laura Gibbs, Tiny Tales from the Ramayana, Stories 73-83
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