Reading Notes: Mahabharata PDE, Part C

        I thought it was interesting that Draupadi complained about being stuck in the woods after knowing the luxury of wealthy living. I considered writing about a girl who is raised in wealth and married to a rich man. Her husband would make a bad business deal and lose everything. She would be the one to bring them out of squalor. She would work hard to achieve what she wanted instead of depending on another. I know this might not have been possible for Draupadi, but I think it would make a good story.
        I also liked that Bhima held Prince Kichaka accountable for his actions. I'd love to write of a single man staying at a kingdom and hearing of a cruel prince raping the maids there. He'd take on the prince no matter the consequences to clear the honor of the maids. It would be even better, in my opinion, if he fell in love with one of the maids.
        Arjuna and Karna's situation is very unique. I thought about writing about two brothers who are kings warring against each other. They would share a father who'd had an affair with the other's mother. After many lives had been lost, they'd find out the truth. Maybe the father would finally confess or one of their mothers has dementia and realizes what's happening. I'd give these brothers a different ending, though. Due to their shared blood they'd end their fighting and enter into peace.

        I personally struggle to write fight scenes, so I thought it might be a good exercise for myself to try to rewrite the fight. I read another student's story which focused on a particular part of a battle in the Ramayana and I thought it worked out really well. I'd like to maybe focus on the battle between two specific characters. A fight between Arjuna and Karna would be really fun to work with. There's a lot of tension going on with them that would be good for dialogue.



Image Information: Arjuna and Karna in Battle, Source: Wikimedia Commons
Bibliography: Mahabharata PDE by Vyasa