Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Section B

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Since Sita Sings the Blues is mainly about the Ramayana from the point of view of Sita, I wanted to focus on her part of the story for this week's notes and compare her to Rama. 

Rama is revered as being perfect because he always does what he is supposed to do, regardless of if he wants to or not, like how he goes into exile despite not wanting to. Another example of this is how he banishes Sita in order to regain respect among his followers. This is part of the story that I did not like and I liked how Sita Sings the Blues seems to make fun of this part of the story. Rama's two sons sing a song that tells how they worship him, but also sheds light on how silly that part was. Rama is revered for following his duties, but Sita does the same. 

Sita follows Rama into exile, despite not having to. She also does not leave with the monkey, Hanuman when he finds her in Ravana's garden because she wants to be a faithful wife and allow for Rama to have a chance to save her. She has a trial by fire to prove that she has remained pure while in Ravana's house and then at the end she asks mother earth to take her back if she is pure, which she does! 

Maybe Sita Sings the Blues has influenced my view, but it seems like Sita is better than Rama to me. Maybe I can incorporate this into a story where Sita saves Rama.

Bibliography: Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley