Theme/Plot
Setting: Ancient city of
Ujjayini
Plot:
In, The Little Clay Cart
the central plot concerns the thwarted love between Charudatta, a sad and
recently impoverished Brahmin merchant, and Vasantasena, a courtesan who, abandoning
her professional indifference, has fallen in love.[1]
Also, the villainous Samsthanaka
(brother in law of King Palaka) trying to keep the lovers apart.
Subplot:
Aryaka (a revolutionary leader)
kills the corrupt King Palaka and gives way to a more democratic and socially enlightened
state. Ultimately facilitating the lovers Charudatta and Vasantasena’s union. [2]
Message:
Those in any station of
life can change their fate by means of their deeds.[3]
Rasas:
The word rasa literally means
“sap”, “essence”, “flavor” or “taste”. Are applied to the aesthetic experience that
a performance generates.[4]
- shringara
(erotic)
- harya
(comic)
- karuna
(sorrowful)
- raudra
(angry)
- veera
(heroic)
- bhayanaka
(fearful)
- vibhatsa
(odious)
- adbhuta
(wondrous)
- shanta
(peace)
Rasas in play:
shringara (erotic) -
Can be seen in the love scenes between Charudatta and Vasantasena.
karuna (sorrowful) –
Seen through Charudatta’s poverty and anticipation of execution.
vibhatsa (odious) –
How Samsthanaka treats his slaves and others like Charudatta.
Modern Themes:
Poverty –
When seeing Charudatta going through his financial situation.
Love –
Vansantasna and Charudatta’s love for one another.
Injustice –
When Samsthanaka accuses Charudatta of killing Vasantasena in the garden for
money.
Films:
Titanic (1997) - directed by James
Cameron
A movie
that shares similar theme’s as The Little Clay Cart is Titanic (1997). These
theme’s include poverty, love, and injustice.
- Poverty
can be seen with Jack and his social standings with other classes like Rose.
- Love
can be seen with Jack and Rose’s relationship throughout the film.
- Injustice
can be seen when Jack is discovered having the heart of the ocean in his possession
and being blamed for something that he didn’t commit.
Utsav
(1984) – directed by
Girish Karnad
[1] “Shudraka.”
The Norton Anthology of Drama, by J. Ellen. Gainor et al., Third ed., vol. one,
W. W. Norton & Company, 2018, pp. 405–409.
[3] J.
Ellen. Gainor et al., “Shudraka.” p. 406
[4] J.
Ellen. Gainor et al., “Shudraka.” p. 408
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