There is a saying that claims “not all heroes wear capes.” In various stories, especially those in graphic novels and comics there is always a hero. Some are more obvious than others like with the superheroes Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman etc. Their incredible strength, fancy gadgets, and overall ability to fight crime and kick butt makes them obvious super heroes, but what about those heroes that don’t wear capes? In life and in many stories, the hero is not always easy to place or identify. This is the case in Sita’s Ramayana by Samhita Arnie and Moyna Chitrakar. Sita’s Ramayana is a graphic novel with a variety of different characters that leaves the reader wondering “Just who is the hero of this epic and could there be more than one?”
Defining “Hero”:
There are numerous definitions of a hero. There is the familiar classification of someone who is respected and admired for things like their bravery or outstanding achievements, as well as selfless qualities. There is also the more literary version that deals with Greek mythology where the hero has at least on immortal parent, is the subject of prophecy, and typically goes on a quest or has a tragic flaw. Finally, there is the simplest description where a hero is merely the main character of a story. If we look at these definitions alone, it still does not make clear just who the hero or main character is in Sita’s Ramayana. There are many other things that need to be taken into consideration first such as the cultural aspects and what specific values and principles are considered important to certain countries or its citizens. In Hinduism dharma is considered to be of particular significance and is regarded as a cosmic law in which a person must fulfill their duties underlying right behavior and social order. (The link at the end of this post addresses this in much more detail as the topic of the video discusses Ramayana, which is the source text for Sita’s Ramayana.) With this in mind, it can be argued that the characters who most fulfill their duties or obligations for the benefit of a greater purpose are the true heroes of this graphic novel.
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| Notable Characters in Sita's Ramayana |
Decisions with Dharma:
The actions and decisions that characters following dharma make are not just to benefit themselves, but are an act of fundamental need. One character that does this well is Rama, as he tries to do what he believes to be right in different scenarios that challenge or require him to be the proper son, brother, husband, and military leader. Hanuman, the helpful and wise monkey king can also be considered a hero who practices dharma as he is hesitant and distrusting of Rama at first, yet Hanuman realizes that he could really be of assistance and aid in setting the rescue of Sita into motion. Let’s not forget about Sita herself though! She is not just some damsel in distress waiting to be rescued, although it might feel that way by Western culture standards. When taking other cultural perspectives into account and exploring the idea of dharma, Sita too follows this path of dutifulness and as a result, can be seen as a hero. For example, she stands by Rama’s side and follows him to the forest even when he is exiled and no longer king. When she is captured by the evil demon king Ravana, she refuses his advances despite the fact that she is being treated horribly, threatened, and could be killed at any moment. Sita also declines rescue from the monkey king to give Rama the opportunity to find her for himself and reclaim his honor thus, practicing dharma. Sita’s extreme proof of faithfulness and purity as a wife is not only for her benefit and dignity, but for the greater good of the universe and her family as well as the overall flow of life.
So exactly who is the hero of Sita’s Ramayana? Let’s just say there can definitely be more than one. To better comprehend and understand what makes a hero a hero you can’t base it off of just one single definition because there is no one definition or cultural idea of a hero. Like many things in life, it is open for debate and interpretation.
A Word on Pictures:
Aside from the characters and its heroes, the art and layout of Sita’s Ramayana helps give the graphic novel a larger than life feel. There are numerous pages where the images run off and are not constrained by panels. This is what Understadning Comics author Scott McCloud would describe as a “bleed.” Other than the aesthetically pleasing effect this technique has, there is more motive and purpose as to why comic bleeds are so effective. The intention of a larger image allows time and space to work together to create a specific feeling or a lingering moment. Take for example, the image below. This picture takes up two whole pages in Sita’s Ramayana and creates a sense of stillness and peace. The two small boxes containing words are in opposing corners of each page and seem insignificant in comparison to the vivid colorful artwork. This large picture is one of the final images in the story and allows the reader to pause for a moment to reflect and take in the character of Sita and her situation before the story comes to a final conclusion.
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| Example of a "bleed" in Sita's Ramayana |
Thanks for reading!
If you are interested in learning more about the origin story of Sita’s Ramayana and the concept of dharma and heroes feel free to click on the link below to find out more.
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