“You shall not have your rice unseasoned. I’ll throw in a bag of onions,” (1007). This is consolation Red Eyebrow offers Swallow’s mother when she is bargaining for possession of her beautiful daughter. The story of Swallow was added to the Ramayana later in order to frame the classic Indian epic, but was this addition necessary? I think so. Though there are always those who believe the original in its purest state is far superior to any modern rendition or translation. And usually I would agree that something is lost rather than gained by adding to or changing a work from its original composition, because even the perceived mistakes or archaic language tell us something about the time and situation in which it was composed. Admittedly something is lost in translation with the Ramayana, but as I cannot read Sanskrit, the translation will have to suffice. With a story as ancient as the Ramayana however, the translations have themselves become “works of great literary merit…” and without them this great epic would not have reached so many people (1004G).
Much like a story changes slightly every time it is passed orally from one story teller to the next, the Ramayana has undoubtedly been recited with incalculable nuances. Every rendition is an important piece of history in its own right and to say that a translation or an addition should not be considered with the same esteem as the original is denying history. In a way, the continually shifting nature of epic stories actually distills the story in the long run, contributing to its cultural potency. Orally, the story of Rama is never told in the exact same way, and in written language, many of the original Sanskrit words have no perfect translation in other languages. The only thing that stays consistent is the basic series of events, the outline or skeleton of the story. When comparing this skeleton with the skeleton of all other epics the world over, certain archetypes and moral lessons become evident. Epics usually involve quite a bit of supernatural events, and besides teaching children cultural values and ethics, these stories also instill in children a sense of wonder and curiosity because they must suspend disbelief. I consider this lesson just as important as any other lesson an epic can teach. It encourages creative thought and mystery at a young age, which I consider an extremely important part of childhood.
The Ramayana certainly provides the mystery and wonder that I mentioned as well as a sense of adventure. It tells children that the best things can sometimes be gained in times of the greatest discomfort and uncertainty and it can be beneficial to leave the security and comfort of home. Rama goes into exile almost voluntarily; he could easily have avoided leaving for his father’s entire kingdom with the exception of Kaikeyi was one his side. Initially Rama was content to accept his father’s throne, but when the idea presents itself to Rama of giving up his possessions and living as a hermit he cannot resist call for adventure. And indeed an adventure Rama gets; if he had not left the kingdom the story would not be nearly as interesting or appealing to children.
an example of people seeking adventure.
The story of Swallow contributes to this encouragement for children to seek adventure. The Ramayana alone seems too disconnected with reality of the average reader’s life and it is difficult to relate to. The suspension of disbelief that is required is such a stretch that Rama’s adventure becomes just a good story rather than something to emulate. Swallow is more similar to the average child that might be exposed to the Ramayana. Her story is very similar to Rama’s in that she at first reluctantly leaves a place of comfort and consistency to go out into a world of uncertainties, but does so partly to save her parents but also out of curiosity for the mountain Wu Shan and in search of the better life it may hold. The supernatural aspects of Swallows story are more believable and the way her story develops into the Ramayana makes the Ramayana more believable because it portrays its true nature as something more open to interpretation. Whether the story of Rama and Sita is a true story form the past or just a dream from Swallow’s imagination is not made totally clear. Even Swallow’s realization that she is Sita and that the Hermit of Wu Shan is Rama is not entirely believable and could be just a metaphor for how two people fell in love. For people who do not totally believe in past lives, Swallow’s story is still inspirational and motivating because of this slight ambiguity. Children can more easily relate to the story with this framing addition. Swallow’s adventure is thus more influential in encouraging children not to be content with the plain unseasoned rice they are given and to throw in a bag of onions every once in a while to season the blandness of a life without adventure and self-discovery so that you may later look back at your own life and say to yourself “’How you are grown!’” (1077)
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