When female characters feature in ancient literature, they often reflect certain social values of the females and emphasize the importance of gender role. In the play, “Sakuntala and the Ring of Recollection”, by Kalidasa, tells about an Indian romantic love story that while hunting in the forest, king Dushyanta encounters and falls in love with his destined mate, Shakuntala, an young female ascetic who live in the hermitage. Likewise, in Virgil’s epic poem “The Aeneid”, Aeneas, the Trojan hero who is destined to be the founder Rome encounters with Dido, the queen of the city Carthage on his journey to Italy. According to the story, Shakuntala is a naive and innocent female character who demands protection from male character. Unlike Shakuntala,
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On contrast to Dido, when Shakuntala faces the similar situation, in which her husband denies the fact of their marriage, Shakuntala tries her best to hold her anger and recalls Dushyanta’s lost memories politely and patiently. Basically, Shakuntala behaviors as the ideal wife should, that is to honor and respect her husband in any circumstances. By comparing the similar experience of the two female characters, one will realize that both Virgil and Kalidasa encourage females to practice their gender role, which is to be dominated by male …show more content…
In the ancient world, the principle function of women is considered as production of children. The same social value is founded in both texts. When king Dushyanta first meet Shakuntal in the play, he is deeply attracts by Shakuntala’s beauty. The scene of Shakuntala’s friend helps her to lose her bark dress shows the idea of plumpness of the female figure. Dushyanta has perspectives that “This bark dress fits her body badly, but it ornaments her beauty…” (line 166) The beauty of Shakuntala shows the classical view held that women’s bodies were built for the purpose of carrying, birthing, and nurturing children. It is understood that Dushyanta has the eager to have a son, a inheritor to take care of his kingdom; the beauty of Shakuntala, the natural function of female is the principle reason that drives Dushyanta to fall deeper and deeper in love with
On contrast to Dido, when Shakuntala faces the similar situation, in which her husband denies the fact of their marriage, Shakuntala tries her best to hold her anger and recalls Dushyanta’s lost memories politely and patiently. Basically, Shakuntala behaviors as the ideal wife should, that is to honor and respect her husband in any circumstances. By comparing the similar experience of the two female characters, one will realize that both Virgil and Kalidasa encourage females to practice their gender role, which is to be dominated by male …show more content…
In the ancient world, the principle function of women is considered as production of children. The same social value is founded in both texts. When king Dushyanta first meet Shakuntal in the play, he is deeply attracts by Shakuntala’s beauty. The scene of Shakuntala’s friend helps her to lose her bark dress shows the idea of plumpness of the female figure. Dushyanta has perspectives that “This bark dress fits her body badly, but it ornaments her beauty…” (line 166) The beauty of Shakuntala shows the classical view held that women’s bodies were built for the purpose of carrying, birthing, and nurturing children. It is understood that Dushyanta has the eager to have a son, a inheritor to take care of his kingdom; the beauty of Shakuntala, the natural function of female is the principle reason that drives Dushyanta to fall deeper and deeper in love with