Compare the Ramayana with The Odyssey in terms of the portrayal of evildoers and their treatment at the story’s conclusion.
For both the Ramayana and The Odyssey, the evildoers are those who seemingly abduct or chase after Hero’s wife. In Ramayana, Ravana the demonic King of Lanka, who abducted Rama’s wife Sita in order to destroy Rama. In the Odyssey, the suitors of Penelope such as Amphinomos and Antinoos. Consider the values and beliefs are so different between ancient India and Greece. The treatments toward these evildoers are very similar, both Ravana and the suitors were killed at the end of the epic. Vengeance is always the main theme for epics. No matter how strong the enemies are, justice shall be raised when these intolerant practices happened.
I totally agree with you. It is obvious to recognize the antagonists in both Ramayana and Odyssey. The ending is also very predictable. The plots also contain copious similarity. Rama and Odysseus went through certain venture and eventually took the revenge.
It’s interesting how the wives of both tales become the point of conflict between hero and antagonist(s). In the Odyssey and the Ramayana, the faithful Penelope and the pure-at-heart, self-sacrificing Sītā, respectively, serve more as their husband’s treasures that they must defend than characters in their own right. Additionally, yes, revenge and retribution does seem a major element in both battle sequences; is this justifiable violence? Are these actions heroic because they are done with good reason? It’s interesting to look cross-culturally at how we view heroes and villains – and what (or whom, suppose) they fight for.
I think its funny that in both stories the evildoers are attracted by the wives. In both Odyssey and Ramayana, Penelope and Sita are similar that they both are beautiful and their husband love them. After being rescued by their husband, they both return to their husband. In addition, the ending of the evildoers are similar too. The Ravana for Ramayana and the suitors from Odyssey are killed by the heroes – Odyssey and Rama.
Men have always tried to obtain the unobtainable, or in this case forbidden. It seems to me that the wives in these stories are considered to be more like beloved trophese in the way they are portrayed. The similarity in treatment of the women in the stories is something I haven’t noticed yet, I find it very interesting.