Story Planning: Sita's Rebellion

I thought this week I would try the new story planning option. I really like this idea because sometimes I feel I haven't really developed my story fully when I write it. Here I will brainstorm some ideas for my story this week. 

I would really like to write about when Rama chooses to banish Sita the forest. I think it's crazy that Rama treats Sita in this manner. All she has ever been is loyal to him and he has shown no loyalty to her. Here are my two ideas.

1. Rama does not banish Sita to the forest. 

Maybe Rama could just choose to rule with Sita by his side and not worry what society might think of him. Another idea would be to actually have Rama step down from the thrown in order to be with Sita. I would really like to see some sacrifices being made on Rama's part for Sita. If he was really so in love with her he shouldn't have to worry how society views him, even though he is king. 

2. Rama still banishes Sita but she doesn't come back with him from the forest. I could have Sita fall out of love with Rama. When Rama comes to the forest to retrieve Sita and his two sons I would still have her prove her purity to Rama but she will not be going home with him. In my opinion Sita has done so much for Rama and always thought the world of him but Rama more than once has questioned Sita's integrity. I think it's time to be able to see Sita stand up for herself. Maybe I could even split up the brothers. Maybe one will want leave with Rama and one will wish to stay in the forest with his mother Sita. 

Of course, I always like happy endings, but life doesn't always work out that way. I think it would be interesting to give the story a twist that the readers don't expect. And who knows, the more I think about it maybe I will have Sita cheat on Rama. That could get pretty interesting. 

(Rama and Sita)

Bibliography:

Sita Sings the Blues 2008

Nina Paley

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Part B

I was surprised by how much I liked this film. It really isn't my typical style but I think I found it so odd that it was intriguing. I liked that in the end the connection was made with the modern day couple and The Ramayana. The whole time I couldn't figure it out, besides the fact that they were in India for part of the film. I really liked being able to watch The Ramayana in a film. This allowed me to focus a lot better than when I read it. I am not much of a reader but I do really liked films! I feel like I could definitely make a unique story out of Sita's time in the forest while she was pregnant. I feel like Sita faces a lot of unnecessary ridicule after she is taken by Ravana. I would like to make a story where Rama stands up for Sita more instead of just banishing her to the forest! 

(Sita and her sons)

Bibliography: 

Sita Sings the Blues 2008

Nina Paley

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Part A

(Sita Sings the Blues)

I typically am not a huge fan of cartoons like this but I actually didn't mind this one. I liked how colorful it was and I really enjoyed the commentary. It was comical to me how they struggled to get the story straight between the three of them. I thought it was weird that Lakshamana wasn't in this cartoon. In Narayan's Ramayana he was there in the forest with Sita and Rama. I was a it confused with the correlation between the people who moved to India and The Ramayana. That part didn't make much sense to me. Overall though, I really liked the first half of the movie. It kept me interested the whole time and gave me an even better understanding of The Ramayana. 

Bibliography:
Sita Sings the Blues 2008
by: Nina Paley