Thinking Activity
The Curse or Karna By T. P. Kailasam
This blog is written in response to the thinking activity assigned by Megha ma'am, Department of English, MKBU on T. P. Kailasam's play 'The Curse of Karna'. In this blog I am going to discuss ‘The Moral Conflict and Hamartia in the character of Karna’ and “Themes of the Play ‘The Curse Or Karna’.
The Curse or Karna:
'The Curse or Karna,' also titled 'The Brahmin's Curse,' is a compelling play penned by T. P. Kailasam in 1946. Rooted in the legendary narrative of Mahabharata, the play delves into the life of Karna, a mythical character with a complex existence. Despite being one of Kunti's offspring, the mother of the Pandavas, Karna grapples with the challenges of living as a Sutha. Karna, a central and tragic figure in the Mahabharata, emerges as a character of extraordinary power and unfortunate circumstances. The storyline unfolds with Kunti, prior to her marriage, receiving a boon from the revered sage Durvasa. This divine boon promises her sons from the devas. In an eager moment to test the efficacy of the boon, she implores Surya Deva to grant her a son. Consequently, Karna is born before Kunti's marriage, leading her to disown him.
The Moral Conflict and Hamartia in the character of Karna:
The Moral Conflict within Karna's journey unfolds in 'The Temptation of Karna,' just preceding the Kurukshetra war. Lord Krishna and Kunti reveal the truth about Karna's birth, thrusting him into an ethical dilemma— torn between his duty as a son and loyalty to his friend, Duryodhana. Despite Krishna's persuasive offers, Karna remains steadfast in his loyalty to Duryodhana, emphasizing the importance of duty over familial ties. Even when Kunti reveals herself as his mother, Karna, perceptive of her intentions, stands resolute in his choice to support Duryodhana, promising not to harm Kunti's sons in battle, except for Arjuna.
Hamartia, a tragic flaw or error in judgement leading to downfall, encapsulates the essence of Karna's character. This concept, derived from the Greek "hamartia," means "fault, failure, guilt,". This can be seen in Karna's narrative, which seamlessly blends classical Greek and Aristotelian elements. Similar to the Classical Greek tragic hero archetype, Karna is portrayed as a pawn of destiny. His support for Duryodhana and inadvertent endorsement of adharma contribute to his downfall. Fate, intertwined with the curse from his Guru Parsurama, plays a significant role in shaping Karna's misfortunes. Despite the tragic trajectory of his destiny, Karna's character is celebrated for his benevolence, earning him the title of 'Daan-veer.' His selfless act of giving away his armor and earrings to the disguised Indra, even when cognizant of the consequences, highlights his nobility and unwavering commitment to charity.
In essence, Karna's life unfolds as a complex tapestry woven with threads of fate, societal prejudices, and personal choices. As a multifaceted and tragic figure in the epic Mahabharata, Karna's journey resonates with the challenges of navigating moral conflicts and societal expectations in the intricate dynamics of this timeless narrative.
- Caste
- Education
- Identity
- Ethical Dilemma
- Destiny
- The Curse
Caste:
Caste assumes a pivotal role in Karna's life. As the son of Suta, he faced denial from Durvasa Rishi for acquiring knowledge. Consequently, Karna resorted to deceit, misrepresenting himself as a Brahmin when seeking instruction from Parshurama. However, when Parshurama uncovered Karna's true caste, he invoked a curse upon him. Karna also endured humiliation from Draupadi, who rejected him as a participant in her Swayamvar due to his Suta lineage. As in the conversation between Parshurama and Karna it got revealed,
"Karna: Believe me, Gurujee, I am no Kshatriya! I am not twice-born e’en! By sire and damI am a low born sootha!
Rama : What ? you a low-born sootha child! Nay, nay!
Karna : I pray you list, great one! What made me lie to you of brahmin birth—the only path to gain your tutordom— it was an inner, innate call... some inborn hunger for to learn the use of arms Raama Karna denied my lowly caste! Beyond this, Gurujee, I had no aim!, no greed for power or pelf, mulcted off oppressed victims!"
Education:
The right to education is of paramount importance in the Mahabharata. Notably, the ancient Hindu puranas and tales delineate that education was exclusive to the upper castes, including Brahmins and Kshatriyas, and denied to those of lower caste. As Karna belonged to the lower caste, being the son of a Suta, Durvasa's refusal to impart knowledge marked a significant setback. Despite this, Karna, driven by a thirst for knowledge, resorted to falsehood when approaching Parshurama, incurring a curse upon revelation of his true caste.
Identity:
Karna's identity remains enigmatic throughout his life. Despite being the son of Kunti through the union with Surya Dev, he faced abandonment due to his unmarried mother's societal predicament. Placed in a wooden basket and set afloat on a river, Karna was adopted by the Suta couple, Adhiratha and Radha, who raised him as their own. Despite his Kshatriya lineage, Karna lived as a member of the lower Suta caste, enduring numerous hardships. His identity crisis persisted, exacerbated by societal prejudices, denial of education, and Draupadi's public humiliation. Krishna, aware of Karna's archery prowess, strategically revealed his true identity during the war. Kunti, too, implored him to join his brothers, but Karna, rejecting his newfound identity, chose to be known as "Radhey" and remained loyal to his friend Duryodhana.
Ethical Dilemma:
Upon learning of his true parentage, Karna faced a profound moral conflict. While Kunti urged him to align with the Pandavas in the war, his allegiance to his steadfast friend Duryodhana weighed heavily on his decision-making. This ethical dilemma forced Karna to choose between the path of righteousness, aligned with his Pandava brothers, and the bonds of friendship with Duryodhana. Ultimately, he opted for the latter, prioritizing loyalty over familial ties.
Destiny:
Destiny played a pivotal role in shaping Karna's life. Born as Kunti's son, he lived with Adhiratha and Radha, a Suta couple, enduring the hardships associated with his lower caste. His quest for education, marked by a fateful encounter with Parshurama, resulted in a curse that would influence his future battles. Despite the twists of fate, Karna's choices remained integral to his destiny.
The Curse:
The theme of the curse is central to Karna's narrative. His pursuit of knowledge led him to seek instruction from Parashurama, Dronacharya's guru. However, Karna, not being a Brahmin, resorted to deception, earning Parashurama's wrath. The ensuing curse foretold a battle with an equal, where the Brahamastra would not manifest during the critical moments of his impending demise.
"Rama: "Rama: ‘If ever you should henceforth sorely need the use of arms you’ve learnt of me…… the barest talk, the merest thought of thy supposed sootha birth crossing thy mind…will swell thy heart to sense of shame, will dull thine eyes and mind, numb and paralyse thy limbs beyond their pow’r to help thee make the slightest, smallest use of knowledge that you’ve learnt of me! avaunt! avaunt!, ere i inflict a further curse on thee!’’"
This curse, a consequence of Karna's dishonesty, added another layer to his tragic fate.
Betrayal:
In Act V of the play, the theme of betrayal takes center stage, reaching its most intense point. Kunti, Karna's mother, secretly approaches him with a hidden plan. She disguises herself as an old queen because she wants to save her favorite son, Arjuna, even if it means betraying Karna.
In their conversation, Kunti asks Karna if he's willing to reveal the secret of his royal birth. She is ready to pay a price for this secret to use against Arjuna in the upcoming battle. Kunti knows Karna has a powerful weapon that can defeat Arjuna.
She pleads with Karna to save one special arrow for the next day's fight. During this emotional exchange, Kunti finally discloses the truth to Karna – that he is her son and the brother of Arjuna. As she say,
"May you not spare the use of just one, a single shaft in the fray tomorrow? Let that lone arrow be reserved, the one I see enshrined there."
This revelation adds a heartbreaking layer to the theme of betrayal, showing the complex emotions and moral challenges within family relationships. Kunti's actions, driven by her favoritism for Arjuna, reveal the deep conflicts and difficult choices that characters face in the play.
He was even betrayed during the war. In the beginning of the war on the seventieth day, Karna’s Chariot wheel got stuck in the mud. So he comes down to take the wheel out from the mud. He also requests to pause the war but Krishna reminds Arjuna about Karna’s unfair treatment to Abhimanyu in the Chakravyuh. So Arjuna seized this opportunity to attack Karna. At this moment Karna decides to use Brahmastra but due to Rama’s curse he would not manifest Brahmastra during the critical moments.
Arjuna at this moment uses Anjalikastra to kill Karna which passes and hits the chest of Karna and ultimately our unsung hero of Mahabharat dies in the battle. Despite these betrayal he keeps fighting till the last atom of his soul which proves him as the greatest hero and warrior.
All these themes are interwoven in each other.
In a nutshell, 'The Curse or Karna' navigates these themes with depth and nuance, providing a lens through which the audience can reflect on timeless and universal aspects of human existence portrayed in Mahabharata.
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