Meanings and Realities of Inequality

I apologize for being late everyone!  I thought that I posted this a few days ago but when I visited the blog this morning to see what other people have to say about the book I could not see it.  If I am somehow an idiot and this is a double post, I apologize.

There are two central themes in this book that really seem to speak to me: the realities and meanings of gender inequality and the injustice of war.  For this first post I will focus on the theme of the realities and meaning of gender inequality.  As I read, although I am paying close attention to the author’s use of symbolism and the fantastical to bring up modern issues, I am reading the story quite literally.  I am a big fan in the Joseph Campbell and really believe in his thoughts on the power of myth.  He says that they teach us lessons and give us life instructions.  I feel that if I were to try to interpret every fantastical thing that happens in The Palace of Illusions, I would miss a big part of the many true meanings.

Author Chitra Banerjee Divarkaruni illuminates the paradigm of gender inequalities through the voice of the stunningly beautiful, strong willed Panchaali princess Drapaudi.  The circumstances of her birth and royal status in many ways shield Drapaudi from the reality of the male dominated world and a woman’s place in it.  This is important because as she is shocked and learns the minutiae of this patriarchal system, over time, these ins and outs are illuminated for us.  The depth and dynamics of her many relationships, the complexity of her emotions, and the path of resistance that she, more often than not, chooses to take all show Drapaudi to be truly born of fire—a powerful force and a true feminist of an epic age.

I found Drapaudi’s education with the sorceress to be very interesting.  I was surprised by what she learned and because I read from a male perspective and I had to actually read it a few times in order to really get what she was learning.  I wondered, why is agreeing to be taught humility when her will and existence were powerful enough to be destined to change the course of history?  Fortunately, Dhai Ma raised the same question and that was my prompt to pay attention.  Dhai asked, “Whoever heard of a queen braiding someone’s hair—or even her own for that matter?” (61)  She later exclaims that the sorceress “will be the death of you! She is wearing you down to skin and bone.” (61)  Drapaudi’s internal reflection really answered my questions.  She spoke of how the sorceress taught her things to help her deal with hardships, to sleep on the floor, and to be beautiful or homely at will.  She says, “I noticed her lessons were opposites” (61).    She taught her how to fight injustice by using narrow minded perceptions to create the illusion of meekness while holding a position of power.