Friday, May 20, 2011
Odysseus vs. Rama
Both the Odyssey and the Ramayana feature a hero who suffers a series of misfortunes. They both are separated from their wives and risk losing them to another man. Both heroes also undertake a journey. How are Odysseus and Rama similar? How are they different? In what ways are their journeys similar or different? How does Gilgamesh and his journey fit into this picture?
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Rama and Odysseus are very much the same in their journeys because in Rama's journey, Rama came across Soorpanaka who tried to attack; however when Soorpanaka tries to attack, she is attacked by Lakshmana and when Lakshmana injures Soorpanka, who goes back and tells Ravanna, so that Ravanna may become an obstacle in the journey of Rama. The example of Soorpanaka is similar to when Odysseus injured the cyclops and the cyclops went to go tell Poseidon that Odysseus had blinded him. The cyclops telling his father, Poseidon, that Odysseus blinded him causes Poseidon to become an obstacle in the journey of Odysseus. Rama and Odysseus are also alike because each of them killed the person or people that held their wives captive. Odysseus killed all the suitors who were reaping his wealth and trying to marry his wife, while Rama killed Ravanna who kidnapped and held Sita captive. One major difference between Rama and Odysseus is that Odysseus decided to leave his wife and family to go to war, while Rama's wife, Sita, was taken by Ravanna and forced to be separated by her husband. Another way that Odysseus and Rama are different was that Rama did not hide his identity, unlike Odysseus who hid his identity from people that he would meet. Gilgamesh is also similar to Rama and Odysseus because he went on his journey to try and rescue his dear friend, Enkidu, after his death. The epic of Gilgamesh is similar because all three characters, Rama, Odysseus, and Gilgamesh all went on a journey to try and save someone that they loved or was in a really close relationship with.
ReplyDeleteRama and Odysseus are very similar in a variety of ways. Rama and Odysseus were both leaders of their people and military warriors. Yet one of their major similarities is their leadership under pressure during battle. Odysseus and Rama were very capable in shouting out effective orders that lead to the successes of their cause. Such as Rama in the battle against Ravana, or Odysseus and his trials at Troy. Odysseus also was a very clever and cunning man, and it was this trait that was essential to getting home. Rama on the other hand used his knowledge and his divinity to be a cunning leader of his troops and people, allowing him to rescue his wife from Ravana. The same cunning trait that Rama had, Odysseus had as well, which also allowed him to rescue his wife from the suitors. Thus there are some parallels to the stories of Rama and Odysseus. Being that both had to rescue their wives and that Rama and Odysseus were both on some sort of unfortunate journey. Both also encountered their share of enemies, such as Rama and Ravana, and Odysseus and the suitors and Poseidon. These enemies for both Rama and Odysseus slowed their journey, and proved them their adversaries. Such as Ravana complicating his years of exile and taking his wife, or Poseidon making Odysseus journey thousands of times harder than it should have been. As well as the suitors, courting the wife of Odysseus, Penelope, while he was away. These parallels are similar enough, but also they are both kings. Rama being the king of Ayodhya, and Odysseus being king of Ithaca. Therese similarities cause them to have the same cares for their people, and after both left for their battles and journeys they both conducted themselves with class and morality. Yet there are some differences that exist for example, Rama does have some divinity in him, while Odysseus does not. While not a huge difference the difference is still there.
ReplyDeleteBoth The Odyssey and The Ramayana have a great hero who goes on a long journey. The two heroes are Odysseus and Rama. These two heroes have some similar and different traits. Both of these heroes lose their wife and have to go on a long journey to get back to her. Also, both of them were far from their kingdoms and had to leave their families. But on the other hands they had some very big differences in their personalities and where they come from. Rama is a god, while Odysseus is just a human. Rama was a very modest person and lived his life by following dharma. Odysseus would gloat and he had great treasures. Both of these heroes journeys were to return their loved ones side. Rama’s journey was to get his wife back who had been stolen by Ravanna. Odysseus’s journey was to get back home to his wife, Penelope, after he fought in the Trojan War, and back home suitors are trying to marry Penelope. The main difference in their journeys is how they get their wives back. Rama has a whole army attack the city where his wife is being held, while Odysseus kills all the suitors with about four people on his side. Another difference in their journeys is Odysseus had a much harder time getting home, he would keep getting shipped wrecked and held captive on islands. After Rama got his wife it was easy for him to get home. Gilgamesh’s journey does not fit as well with these other stories, but they did have one thing in common, they all went to save someone they loved, but the reason they lost them are difference. Rama and Odysseus are much more alike than Gilgamesh to either of these two heroes.
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