Leap of Faith
Through reading this romantic play, one can get a sense of who a character is as a person. In the introduction, woman are described in a sensual manor; “Sensuous women in summer love…” Essentially associating a glistening woman on a summer day with warmth and comfort. Rather than focusing on beauty of the mind, physical beauty is what intrigues the men. Sakuntela strikes me as a woman who is angelic and beautiful. Her way of living is quite interesting. she derives from an ascetic lifestyle She is the daughter of a nobleman who has had many hardships in life and has lived to provide for his family. Her only form of work is to assist her father in watering his trees.
Dusyanta, powerful king of the palaces, encounters Sakuntela on a hunting expedition. He is a amazed of how beautiful she is considering she lives in the forest. He utters, “these forest woman have beauty rarely seen inside royal palaces…” Sakuntela is self-sufficient and has maintained herself using limited resources. The king’s admiration flatters Sakunela but if quick to deny his company. It is as if she enjoyed being pursued and taunted by a handsome man. It is quite humorous that Sakuntela is worthy of him simply because he sexually desires her If it were the other way around, she would be considered a savage with no sense of moral. At first she ignores his flattering words but after persisting nagging from Anasuya and Priyamvada to purse a romantic relationship; she decides to give in into his affection. This demonstrates how naïve Sakuntela is and how easily she is influenced by other people.
The affair escalates to marriage as a simple ceremony with witnesses only by friends of Sakuntela. He soon leaves the forest to attend his royal duties as king, with the understanding that he will soon return and take Sakuntela with him as promised. Lost in her wittedness she fails to recognize Sage Durvasa whom many respect and admire. For lack of acknowledgment from her part, he then puts a curse on her so that her loved one will forget of her completely. She soon discovers she is pregnant and long awaits for her beloved to arrive. Unfortunately many years have passed and begins to doubt his return. She soon pursues on a journey to find Dusyanta and claim paternity of his child. He then claims to have had no affiliation with such dreadful woman and is quick to rid her out of his palace. Angered and agonized she leaves with her son and is forced to live as a single mother. Contrary to how she was at the beginning of the story, Sakuntela is now the one who does the pursing and is not thrilled in doing so. The only way he is to remember her is for her to present said ring he bestowed upon her.
Anasuya and Priyamvada were mostly the ones who guided Sakuntela to the path she is led. She let her faith be taken by influence and hope. Luckily she was recognized and taken in by the king. If it was up to Sakuntela, she would have remained the forest and live the simple life. Sakuntela suggest that life should not be led by influences and faith. As an individual, one has to create their own future not have others do it for you.
Neli Llangari
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