The setting of the beginning of Part C is a forest region of
Kirkinda, in which a clan of monkeys lives. They are lead by Hanuman and have
human-like emotions and knowledge. Later, these monkeys play a role in the
rescue mission for Sita. The story that I liked from this part was the one when
Tara warned her husband not to go out and face Sugreeva, but he did anyways and
ends up dying. There is one quote from the Ramayana in which Rama is telling Vali why he sided with his brother. To give context, Vali had taken his brother's wife and forced Sugreeva to live on a mountain unless he wanted to be killed. Rama tells him, "One who is capable of such achievement cannot but be judged by the highest standards of conduct." I think that proves to be true in real life too.
This half of the book focuses on Rama's pursuit for Sita, who
was kidnapped by Ravana. As Sita is flown away by Ravana, she drops her jewelry
down to give Rama the general direction she was taken in. It would have been
nice for Sita to drop individual beads down and leave a trail like Hansel and
Gretel.
It is nice how the
story is told by Narayan and in some parts you remember that the narrator likes
to comment on the story. For example, in the scene where Vali is being carried
down the mountain by his sons, the narrator remarks how some stories must end
sadly, but it is clear that Narayan can’t bear to leave a story unhappy and
ends the tale with Vali’s spirit rising to the heavens.
Vali Dying, Wikipedia
It is interesting
the parallel that was drawn between the desert where Thataka lived, which was
completely dry and hot and barren, and the wet season, which is equally
unbearable for Rama. You would think that opposite of the desert would be
beautiful, but Ramayana likes to remind the reader that there's such thing as
too much rain.
Narayan's Ramayana, link to Reading Guide A.
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