Indian Epics Spring 2018

        My sister, Adeline, and I were born into a very wealthy family. Our father was often gone for work and when he was home, he was not always a kind man. He often made our mother cry. But, because of him, we lived very cushioned lives and wanted for nothing. We had servants and maids and nannies. Our closets were filled with clothes and shiny shoes. The playroom was always stocked full of sparkling new toys and dolls.         With this wealth came certain expectations for our family. Us girls were to always look our best and could only play with the children of other well-off families. This never bothered me much, but Addie fought it hard. She liked to play with the poor boys in town. I can't remember how many times our nanny would drag her home by the ear with Adeline's clothes and shoes ruined with mud.         As we got older, my sister got in trouble less often. But this was not because she did only as she was t...

        I thought it was really wrong the way the Pandavas let the low-caste woman and her sons die in the fire. I considered writing a story where this was planned. A couple running from bad people stage a fire and place two corpses in their place to burn and fool others into thinking they died in the flames.         I also really liked how the rakshasa fell in love and tried to save Bhima. I'd love to write about a skilled woman assassin falling in love with her target and deciding to save him instead of following out her orders.         The rakshasa woman marrying Bhima was also interesting. I thought rakshasas were all evil, but she does not seem this way. Perhaps I could write a story of a female creature whose species is known for evil and cruelty. She would fall in love with a human or some other kind of being. The man would be hesitant at first, but he would later see her kindness and love. Though he accepted her,...

        I like the idea of Ganga telling her husband not to go against her or she'd leave him. I don't think it's fair that she didn't explain why she was doing what she was doing to the babies. I could write a story about a man who does not understand that the things his wife does are all for him. He might try to question her or make her stop because he doesn't see. In my version, however, the wife would explain instead of leaving.         I really enjoyed Karna's birth story. I'd like to write about a woman who's impregnated by an other worldly being. I'm not sure if I'd have her keep the child and slowly see the power he possesses from his father, or if she'd be forced to give up the babe like Kunti was. I like that a young woman who is unable to care for her son gives her child to a family who desperately wants a baby and is able to take care of it.         I found it interesting that Dhritarashtra's wife chose to b...