Jordan Adams

3rd period
THEME TIMELINE
The Ramayana

Objective Summary​: After leaving Ayodhya on a quest to rid the world of evil, Rama, Lakshamana, and Viswamithra arrive in Mithila. While
walking around, Rama and Sita notice each other and immediately fall in love, as they were husband and wife in heaven, although they did
not realize that. Sita feels lovesick and begins to worry over not being with Rama while Rama broods. Janaka also wants Rama to marry
Sita, so Viswamithra suggests that Rama try Sita’s hand by lifting, bending, and stringing Shiva’s bow. He is successful and the whole city
celebrates. Viswamithra tells Janaka to send a messenger to Dasaratha about the marriage, who happily accepts it. Soon after the
ceremony and vows, Dasaratha, his sons, and daughter-in-laws all head back to Ayodhya while Viswamithra retires into the Himalayas.

Theme:​ Those who don’t look the part can accomplish great feats.

Chapter 2: The Wedding Chapter 1: Rama’s Initiation Chapter 9: Rama in Court

“Some commented, ‘How cruel! This
supposed sage is not ashamed to put the
delicate, marvellous youth to this harsh
trial!’ ‘The King is perverse and cruel to
place this godlike youth in this
predicament… If he was serious about it,
he should have just placed Sita’s hand in
his instead of demanding this acrobatic
feat…’” (Narayan 27). ​This commentary
from the onlookers shows that Rama wasn’t
seen as someone who could lift, bend, and
string Shiva’s bow, which he ends up doing.
People did not give him much of a chance
being that other suitors who had attempted
to complete the task had failed.
(Mahabali’s Story)
“Bali laughed… ‘The small figure you see
is a deception: he is minute, but this
microcosm…’ ‘Oh stop! I know my
responsibility.’... the water fell…
assumed a majestic stature spanning the
earth and the sky… ‘Where shall I place
the third step?’... ‘Here on my head…’...
and thus disposed of the tormentor of
the worlds.” (Narayan 15). ​Mahabali, due
to Rama’s size, laughed at Rama and didn’t
take him seriously, even when Sukracharya
tried to warn him. It later on came back in
bad karma when he was pushed into the
netherworld.
“... ‘You should not bestir yourself in this
manner. After all, we are not being
opposed by a regular infantry, cavalry, or
elephants, but by a crowd of monkeys
and some men.’” (Narayan 126). ​Ravana,
Indrajit, and the rest of the court are still
convinced that Ravana’s end will be by a
monkey clan and not Rama, and even then
they are still dismissing the idea that the
demon Ravana, tormentor of the worlds, will
face his end by monkeys. In the end,
Ravana faced his death at the hands of
Rama.
Evaluation​: I agree with the theme statement because often times we judge people based on their physical appearance, especially when we
are not interacting with them and getting to know their character or ability. Many times we see kids and teenagers as immature and
incapable of accomplishing something because of their age, but throughout history some of the people that have changed the world, their
country, or even their neighborhood have been young kids and teenagers, and our experiences as kids and teenagers often shape us into
the person we become as adults. Another example of this could come from disabled people, such as Stephen Hawking, who has been one
of the biggest influencers in modern cosmology and our understanding of space, gravity, and other related things.