Archetypes and the Ramayana’s Cast of Characters

1. The Exiled Hero He is sent away from his home or jailed or somehow wronged and cast out of his kingdom. He might be known in modern tropes as the Noble Fugitive Who from literature, myth, folklore, fairy tale, Disney movies, and maybe pop culture do you think fits this description?

In the Ramayana, it’s :RAMA He is an incarnation of the god Vishnu, the Preserver; this means he is godlike, noble, and powerful. He has to defeat Ravana, and only someone who is superhuman can do that. He’s the eldest and favorite son of Dasaratha, King of Ayodhya, so he’s a prince

2. Places of Exile Where in literature, myth, folklore, fairy tale, & Disney movies do people get sent when they are exiled/sent, taken prisoner, etc.?

In the Ramayana, it’s… Into the forest. When Rama is banished to the forest for 14 years, he takes his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman into the woods with him. When Sita is later kidnapped by the King of the Demons (Ravana), he takes her to Lanka, a demon kingdom which is on an island in the middle of the ocean; it’ll take quite an interesting adventure to get her back.

3. The Dutiful/Loyal Wife Who in literature, myth, folklore, fairy tale, Disney movies, and maybe pop culture are the dutiful, devoted, and always loyal wives?

In the Ramayana, it’s… Sita, Rama’s wife and daughter of King Janaka of Mithila. She is the epitome of womanly purity and virtue She is also supposed to be an incarnation of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity; because she is Vishnu’s wife, whenever he incarnates, she incarnates with him.

Some images of Rama and Sita

4. Tests of Loyalty This is meant to pertain to women to their husbands, primarily, but could also extend to anyone who is proving his/her loyalty or worth to another. So… Who from literature, myth, folklore, fairy tale, Disney movies undergoes a test of loyalty? Make a list of who and how.

In the Ramayana, it’s… Sita and Kausalya, who is Rama’s mother Sita will have to face some literal fires to prove her faithfulness to her husband Ravana, the main antagonist and demon king Ravana is the king of Lanka and has 10 heads and 20 arms. He received this boon from the God Brahma that he cannot be killed by gods, demons, or spirits after performing a severe penance for 10,000 years.

More about the Test of Loyalty idea… Within this text, proving your worth and fulfilling your dharma is dependent on YOUR ROLE IN SOCIETY. If you are a wife, your duty is to your husband and family so stay put, stay faithful, and be patient and steadfast in your belief that you’ll get rescued and/or have your husband return. If you are a warrior, your role is to fulfill your dharma by fighting, killing, sacrificing, and dying if necessary.

5. Wicked Stepmothers Who in literature, myth, folklore, fairy tale, Disney movies, and maybe pop culture are these characters? There should be a long list for this one! Go to fairy tales!

In the Ramayana, it’s… Kaikeyi, Dasaratha’s wife and Rama’s stepmother. She demands that Rama be banished to the forest so that her son Bharata can be awarded the kingdom instead…(this reminds me of Druzilla and Anastasia) Bharata, is the second son of king Dasaratha, and when he learns what his mother has done, he storms out of the palace and goes in search of Rama, his stepbrother.

6. Abduction of the Princess Who in literature, myth, folklore, fairy tale, Disney movies fit this description? Remember she is like an object to be won and probably wooed.

In the Ramayana, it’s… Sita to the demon realm, Lanka. There’s a whole exciting episode in which she is tricked and gets kidnapped. It’s also exciting as Rama goes on the rescue mission to save her with the help of lots of interesting forest creatures

7. Gods rewarding humans who prove their devotion. Rewards for this behavior can include superhuman abilities/physical changes/mad skills

In the Ramayana, it’s… Ravana, who as soon as he gets his reward from Brahma, begins to lay waste to the earth and disturbs the deeds of good Hindu sages. Only Rama as Vishnu incarnate can defeat him, with the help from his friends (flying monkeys and bears, oh my)

8. Helpful animal/forest creatures who come to the aid of the hero to advise or fight These helpers may sometimes be prisoners themselves, who join the hero in escaping and then the battle of some sort. Where have you seen them before? Make a list based on knowledge of literature, myth, folklore, fairy tales, etc.

In the Ramayana, it’s… Hanuman, the wise and resourceful monkey (sage figure?) who helps Rama in his quest Sugriva, the monkey king whose throne was taken by his brother Bali, but Rama helps him defeat the usurper in return for his assistance in finding Sita.

Hanuman Surgeeva

More Anthropomorphism Marica is a shapeshifter who shifts into a deer, but he’s a bad guy Jatayu, a vulture

What Rakshasas/raksasas might look like

More general info it’s good to know This Sanskrit epic poem, which translates to The Way of Rama, is attributed to the poet Valmiki and is the oldest literary version of the tale, ca 550 BCE. He collected songs and legends connected to Rama and wrote down his version in verse. It had existed in oral traditions by storytellers for centuries and continues to be enacted in countless regional folk theaters in India A hugely popular television series, “Ramayan” was aired in India from 1987-1988, drawing in 100 million viewers to become the “world’s most viewed mythological serial.” It was reported that India came to a virtual standstill as so many people who could gain access to a tv stopped whatever they were doing to watch.

More general info it’s good to know A hugely popular television series, “Ramayan” was aired in India from 1987-1988, drawing in 100 million viewers to become the “world’s most viewed mythological serial.” It was reported that India “came to a virtual standstill as so many people who could gain access to a tv stopped whatever they were doing to watch.” (source: British Library’s guide to the Ramayana)

The end!