The short story Punishment written by Rabindranath Tagore has exposed many issues that can relate to real life situations. While reading the short story I saw a connection to the real-world issues which are mental health and domestic violence. The story is based on two brothers, Dukhiram Rui and Chidam Rui, whom were each married to their wives one named Radha and the other named Chandara. Radha and Chandara are sisters-in-laws who are known in their town for always arguing among each other. One day Dukhiram comes home from work in an opposite state of mind which leads him to murdering his wife Radha. Chidam as a loyal brother decides that his wife will be taking the blame for the murder of her sister-in-law. Chandara decides she will take the blame however, her reason for doing this was not only because her husband Chidam peruses her but also because she is tired of the life she has been living with him.
I say that this connects to domestic violence because the wife Radha was murdered by her husband Dukhiram Rui. She was murdered by having a knife struck her head for the reason being that when her husband had arrived home from a very long day at work. At the time, he had not had lunch due to the amount of work that had to get done so he was upset and also, he would get insulted and got paid minimum for what his job was really worth. He gets home and finds his child naked in the corner crying and he also does not find food. Radha states “Where is there food? Did you give me anything to cook? Must I earn money myself to buy it?” (894) Him being all aggravated and desperate he “plunged his knife into her head”. (894) Any physical harm that is done among partners is considered domestic violence, in this case he did more than just hurt her. I also add mental health because once he had done his crime, he was in shock and most of the time when someone stays in shock due to a traumatic moment in their lives they tend to go through mental breakdowns. I believe that him being in poverty, having a wife and a kid to take care and on top of that his job did not pay him well would be really stressful for him and that is something that relates to mental health. I also believe that this short story relates to mental health because Chandara was given to her husband at a young age because when all of this occurred she was only seventeen to eighteen years old. She had also gone through domestic violence, the short story sates “If I ever hear that you’ve been to the ghãt on your own, I’ll break every bone in your body.” (896) This is Chidam threatening her which portrays his violent behavior towards her. Chandara being married at a very young age and also go through this must have been traumatic and that brings me back to mental health.
