Indian Epics Spring 2018

        Once, there was a young woman named Kumba who lived a very hard life. Her story begins with a man. He was very handsome and a king. He promised Kumba expensive gifts and his endless love. She of course adored him. They spoke of marriage and a future together. After a time, Kumba became pregnant. She did not worry because she knew her love would marry her and they would start their lives together. But, when she told the man of his unborn child, his expression was cold and stony. He told her he would have nothing to do with the baby and had her physically removed from his palace as she cried.         Kumba’s family was very proud and moral. They did not know of her affair or the child. So, she had the child in secret and hid her pregnancy from everyone. When the child was born, it could not have been more perfect. The little boy did not cry but smiled up at his mother right after birth. Kumba wept but knew the child could not stay wit...

        Kunti's story saddens me greatly. I've already written about a woman with a forbidden child in Star-Crossed Lovers , but I'm not opposed to putting a new spin on this story. I could write about a woman finding a man she loves and becoming pregnant with his child. His death, disappearance, or rejection could leave her vulnerable to criticism. She'd be forced, like Kunti, to give up the child. If she were rejected, I might also call upon themes from Amba's story. I had considered writing about her anyways, so it could be really interesting to combine these women's stories together into a new one.          I'm further impressed by Kunti's strength following the deaths of Pandu and Madri. I could work this into my idea before. Maybe my character is rejected by her lover, gives up her child, vows to get revenge on her ex-lover, takes over her kingdom, and starts an orphanage in honor of her lost son. This would continue the pious car...

        First off, I really like the video format for these stories. It was sometimes hard for me to picture the stories as I was reading them. The reading was often overwhelming and I sometimes got confused about which characters were which.         I liked the concept of a son being reunited with his father. I'm imagining a story of a woman who runs with her child from an unhappy marriage. She dies years later and her husband would be reunited with their child. Or perhaps a man is sent to war, and when he returns his wife is gone, but he is left with their child and finds joy in this.         Bhishma had such loyalty for his father. I feel that our society is flipped. A parent would do anything for their child, but those roles are not always reversible. It might be interesting to write of a boy who works incredibly hard for his family. He would sacrifice everything, including his happiness, to ensure the safety of his f...