Reading Notes: Sakuntala (Part 5)
Sakuntala: Too Late?
In this part of the story, Dushmanta is in his kingdom, still pondering who the girl claiming to be his wife was and why she insisted so fiercely. A couple of fishermen come to him while he is still thinking about Sakuntala, and the fishermen hold up a ring that they found inside a fish while they were catching them that morning. Upon seeing the ring, the one that he had given Sakuntala when they were married, he suddenly realizes who Sakuntala was and that she was telling the truth! He felt horrible for denying his wife and he sobbed at the thought of denying her. Dushmanta rewarded the fishermen for finding the ring, ultimately lifting the curse he was under. Dushmanta sent messengers looking for Sakuntala, but she was never found or heard from again. He commissioned a painter, and Sakuntala was brought to life onto canvas. Dushmanta left his kingdom, saying he could never rule without Sakuntala by his side.
This part of the story is so bitter sweet. Dushmanta finally remembered Sakuntala, but she could not be found. I would like to recreate this part of the story to really focus on Dushmanta and show that he really didn't know he was under a curse. It's kind of like when you make a mistake and wish that you could go back in time and change what was said or what happened.
Bibliography: Sakuntala, by Sunity Devee from "Nine Ideal Indian Women" pages 75-77.
In this part of the story, Dushmanta is in his kingdom, still pondering who the girl claiming to be his wife was and why she insisted so fiercely. A couple of fishermen come to him while he is still thinking about Sakuntala, and the fishermen hold up a ring that they found inside a fish while they were catching them that morning. Upon seeing the ring, the one that he had given Sakuntala when they were married, he suddenly realizes who Sakuntala was and that she was telling the truth! He felt horrible for denying his wife and he sobbed at the thought of denying her. Dushmanta rewarded the fishermen for finding the ring, ultimately lifting the curse he was under. Dushmanta sent messengers looking for Sakuntala, but she was never found or heard from again. He commissioned a painter, and Sakuntala was brought to life onto canvas. Dushmanta left his kingdom, saying he could never rule without Sakuntala by his side.
This part of the story is so bitter sweet. Dushmanta finally remembered Sakuntala, but she could not be found. I would like to recreate this part of the story to really focus on Dushmanta and show that he really didn't know he was under a curse. It's kind of like when you make a mistake and wish that you could go back in time and change what was said or what happened.
(Emerald Ring, Wikipedia Commons)
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