As the text attempts to argue for a common link between the East and West, it instead suggests an unbalanced power dynamic between the two regions. As Hilarion explores the Hindu temple, the text notes that the priestesses of the temple “performed their religious dances before Chrishna, the Indian Apollo, and idol of the temple” (Owenson 91-92). Here, the text connects the Eastern figure of Chrishna and the Western figure of Apollo to suggest a commonality between these two seemingly opposite regions of the world. The text employs the language of idols, in this case meaning an adored figure rather than a physical object, to provide an illustrative example of the similarities between the two. The use of the idols cements the text’s efforts to imply the connection between the two religions since it allows for the audience to view the two sides in religious terms, which allows for possible conversions to occur more effectively. More specifically, the text does this to familiarize and explain the East to its Western audiences who may not know about Chrishna and the importance of the deity. While this may appear to be an innocent
As the text attempts to argue for a common link between the East and West, it instead suggests an unbalanced power dynamic between the two regions. As Hilarion explores the Hindu temple, the text notes that the priestesses of the temple “performed their religious dances before Chrishna, the Indian Apollo, and idol of the temple” (Owenson 91-92). Here, the text connects the Eastern figure of Chrishna and the Western figure of Apollo to suggest a commonality between these two seemingly opposite regions of the world. The text employs the language of idols, in this case meaning an adored figure rather than a physical object, to provide an illustrative example of the similarities between the two. The use of the idols cements the text’s efforts to imply the connection between the two religions since it allows for the audience to view the two sides in religious terms, which allows for possible conversions to occur more effectively. More specifically, the text does this to familiarize and explain the East to its Western audiences who may not know about Chrishna and the importance of the deity. While this may appear to be an innocent