Friday, December 19, 2008
Tain
Honor is a key theme throughout the Tain. Indeed, Cuchulainn kills his own son rather than let the honor of Ulster's fine warriors become tarnished. It surly is a noble idea, but isn't the object of war to achieve overall victory? That being said, does the end justify the means? Medb acts despicable, but could she be the only one truly striving for victory?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Themes in the Illiad
Other than Achilles wrath and his battle with pride, what do you think is the second largest theme in the Illiad?
Friday, October 31, 2008
Mahabharata: Justice in the Afterlife
Why is it that Duryodhana should deserve a throne in heaven when four of the Pandavas and Draupadi are made to serve time in hell?
It is impossible to label Duryodhana as anything but wicked after the many dishonorable and shameful acts he suffered on the sons of Pandu. While he may have followed certain aspects of his personal Dharma, he committed many Adharmatic acts and violated general Dharmas of man such as his violation of Draupadi or his abundance of anger and violence. For no other reason but jealously, hatred, and spite (all Adharmatic traits), Duryodhana subjugated the Pandavas to lives of full of misery and poverty they neither deserved nor need suffered. True, Duryodhana was not all evil as no man can be classified as total evil or total good, but surely the war he brought about resulting in the death of thousands upon thousands of men due to his unwillingness to uphold the dastardly deal he created merits a large stint in hell. So why should he be allowed a throne in heaven when the Pandavas need spend time in hell in atonement for the small amount of sins they committed during their time on earth?
Taking into account that Duryodhana's death predated the Pandavas at least thirty-six years, perhaps he served most of that time in hell as atonement for his many crimes against the Pandavas (his own kin) and in retribution for his Dharma. In contrast, the Pandavas while being close to perfection in their lives and Dharmas still committed sins from time to time for which they too deserved a time in hell. According to the Mahabharata, Yudhisthira ascended into heaven shortly after Bhima fell. This being said, the Mahabharata does not list an amount of time given from the falling of Bhima to Yudhisthira's visit into hell. We can therefore ascertain that the time the Pandavas and Draupadi spent in hell to be short-lived. Perhaps then, the Pandavas spent an acceptable time in hell atoning for their transgressions. My only objection to this theory is that while Duryodhana may have spent thirty-six years in hell, I find this to be too short a sentence for one who committed such evil.
It is impossible to label Duryodhana as anything but wicked after the many dishonorable and shameful acts he suffered on the sons of Pandu. While he may have followed certain aspects of his personal Dharma, he committed many Adharmatic acts and violated general Dharmas of man such as his violation of Draupadi or his abundance of anger and violence. For no other reason but jealously, hatred, and spite (all Adharmatic traits), Duryodhana subjugated the Pandavas to lives of full of misery and poverty they neither deserved nor need suffered. True, Duryodhana was not all evil as no man can be classified as total evil or total good, but surely the war he brought about resulting in the death of thousands upon thousands of men due to his unwillingness to uphold the dastardly deal he created merits a large stint in hell. So why should he be allowed a throne in heaven when the Pandavas need spend time in hell in atonement for the small amount of sins they committed during their time on earth?
Taking into account that Duryodhana's death predated the Pandavas at least thirty-six years, perhaps he served most of that time in hell as atonement for his many crimes against the Pandavas (his own kin) and in retribution for his Dharma. In contrast, the Pandavas while being close to perfection in their lives and Dharmas still committed sins from time to time for which they too deserved a time in hell. According to the Mahabharata, Yudhisthira ascended into heaven shortly after Bhima fell. This being said, the Mahabharata does not list an amount of time given from the falling of Bhima to Yudhisthira's visit into hell. We can therefore ascertain that the time the Pandavas and Draupadi spent in hell to be short-lived. Perhaps then, the Pandavas spent an acceptable time in hell atoning for their transgressions. My only objection to this theory is that while Duryodhana may have spent thirty-six years in hell, I find this to be too short a sentence for one who committed such evil.
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