Women's role in World Literature

Can you take a death penalty for someone you love?

Reading the story of “Punishment” by Tagore, I just wonder how those two brothers can do such a thing to younger wife who is in her teen age. Chandara who is appeared to be murderer in the story is actually a witness. Her husband, Chidam, is supposed to save her from this situation. However, Chidam is trying to save his brother instead of her by telling false information. “if I lose my wife I can get another, but if my brother is hanged, how can I replace him?” In my opinion, this is insane, nonsense. How could you not save your wife who is innocent? By the way, why does Chandara admit what her husband tells her to do?

This story tells us how India or Asian society at that time period was men-centered. Men possess all power in that family. Mostly men go out for hunting for food or bringing money for food to his family, on the other hand, women stay at home and take care of household and child, powerless or useless. Right before the murder happened, Dukhiram came home from work and looked for food saying “Give me my food.” He did not care about how she was doing all day or how she felt, all he cared at that time were how hungry and tired he was.
Moreover, between younger couple, Chidam says “if I ever hear that you’ve been to the ghat on your own, I’ll break every bone in your body” and Chandara replies “the bones will mend again.” then what happens… Chidam sprang at her, grabbed her by the hair, dragged her back to the room and locked her in. (p.1696) Women as you see from Chandara were powerless, low social status, and commonly harrassed by men at that time. This expresses women’s power and their role at that time of era.