Hayavadana, Naga-Mandala, Tale-Danda and The Fire and The Rain. He has been widely acclaimed by both the theatre and drama critics for certain aspects of his plays: plot construction, characterisation, song, symbolism, use of myth and folktales, reinterpretation of history, projection of contemporary social and psychological problems. In this paper ,an attempt has been to examine critically Karnard's depiction of contemporaneity in his play, Yayati . By exploiting myths and legends, he tried to show how they are quite relevant in portraying a modern man's dilemma. In other word, the myths and legends provide him ample scope to take up significant issues like problems of identity, patriarchy, man-woman relationship and pervasive sense of alienation.
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IV 7&8 Jan. - Dec. 2012 Journal of Literature, Culture and Media Studies 239 the daughter of Shukracharya who could bless him with immortality. When Sharmistha and Devayani have an argument Sharmistha tells Devayani: “Sharmistha: Except that he is not lusting for you. You poor darling, he lusts for immortality. Your father's art of sanjeevani.” (2008:11) When Devayani insists that Yayati did not know her identity when he married her, Sharmistha sarcastically comments: Sharmistha: …even with prostitutes picked off the street, the first thing a man does is ask her name'. And you say with you, the king dispensed with even that formality? You knew what would happen if you didn't act quickly. I mean, you didn't want the Kacha experience again! (13) Despite the on-going conflict between Devayani and Sharmistha, Devayani does not order the latter to go away from the palace. Thus she is the one who is responsible for Sharmistha in the palace. When the crisis in the life of Yayati comes, instead of owning up her responsibility, Devayani leaves the palace. She refuses to yield and the result is the curse of premature old age on Yayati. When Yayati learns that Shukracharya has cursed him with old age he does not accept the responsibility of what he has done. The curse demoralizeYayati. Yayati loses control on himself and does not know how to handle …show more content…
Yayati gets violent and refuses to accept old age. He remains adamant. He goes to the extent of saying that Pooru must be celebrating the occasion for it gives him an opportunity to assume the mantle of the King immediately. When Pooru comes back and informs that Yayati's curse can be redeemed if some young person accepted his old age. Yayati is jubilant. Again when Pooru informs Yayati that nobody is ready to accept the curse, the latter does not believe it. Pooru ask Yayati to accept his old age and go to the forest but in return Yayati cries bitterly and with folded hands begs at Pooru. He decides to accept the curse of senility inflicted on his father. When Pooru proposes that the curse given to Yayati should be transferred to him, Vol. IV 7&8 Jan. - Dec. 2012 Journal of Literature, Culture and Media Studies 240 Sharmistha tries to dissuade him.She then reminds him of his responsibility towards his wife. But Pooru doesn't resist from his decision. Yayati, thus succeeds in transferring his old age and his sins to Pooru. The argument that he puts forward is that his people need him as a king and therefore he is doing this but to his own self, it is clear that this is not the truth. When Swarnalata gives Chitralekha the news that Pooru has accepted his father's old age, she is absolutely stunned takes the courage to accept the situation by consoling herself to be a lucky person. Pooru wants her
IV 7&8 Jan. - Dec. 2012 Journal of Literature, Culture and Media Studies 239 the daughter of Shukracharya who could bless him with immortality. When Sharmistha and Devayani have an argument Sharmistha tells Devayani: “Sharmistha: Except that he is not lusting for you. You poor darling, he lusts for immortality. Your father's art of sanjeevani.” (2008:11) When Devayani insists that Yayati did not know her identity when he married her, Sharmistha sarcastically comments: Sharmistha: …even with prostitutes picked off the street, the first thing a man does is ask her name'. And you say with you, the king dispensed with even that formality? You knew what would happen if you didn't act quickly. I mean, you didn't want the Kacha experience again! (13) Despite the on-going conflict between Devayani and Sharmistha, Devayani does not order the latter to go away from the palace. Thus she is the one who is responsible for Sharmistha in the palace. When the crisis in the life of Yayati comes, instead of owning up her responsibility, Devayani leaves the palace. She refuses to yield and the result is the curse of premature old age on Yayati. When Yayati learns that Shukracharya has cursed him with old age he does not accept the responsibility of what he has done. The curse demoralizeYayati. Yayati loses control on himself and does not know how to handle …show more content…
Yayati gets violent and refuses to accept old age. He remains adamant. He goes to the extent of saying that Pooru must be celebrating the occasion for it gives him an opportunity to assume the mantle of the King immediately. When Pooru comes back and informs that Yayati's curse can be redeemed if some young person accepted his old age. Yayati is jubilant. Again when Pooru informs Yayati that nobody is ready to accept the curse, the latter does not believe it. Pooru ask Yayati to accept his old age and go to the forest but in return Yayati cries bitterly and with folded hands begs at Pooru. He decides to accept the curse of senility inflicted on his father. When Pooru proposes that the curse given to Yayati should be transferred to him, Vol. IV 7&8 Jan. - Dec. 2012 Journal of Literature, Culture and Media Studies 240 Sharmistha tries to dissuade him.She then reminds him of his responsibility towards his wife. But Pooru doesn't resist from his decision. Yayati, thus succeeds in transferring his old age and his sins to Pooru. The argument that he puts forward is that his people need him as a king and therefore he is doing this but to his own self, it is clear that this is not the truth. When Swarnalata gives Chitralekha the news that Pooru has accepted his father's old age, she is absolutely stunned takes the courage to accept the situation by consoling herself to be a lucky person. Pooru wants her