THE VOTIVE CUSTOM OF MARRIAGE IN GIRISH KARNAD’S PLAY THE FIRE & THE RAIN

Abstract

The present paper explores the conventional biased system of marriage in Girish Karnads  play The Fire and the Rain . Throughout the play, marriage is considered as an institution, where women are obliged to be the victims in the custom of marriage. Karnad contemplates marriage as a system of sacrifice. Women are perished in the hecatomb arranged by the patriarchal society. The sovereignty of a woman slumps in the hands of their patriarchs . Vishaka and Nittilai are the sufferers in the play The Fire and the Rain , for the final decisions taken by their family. Both characters are not married to the man whom they loved, but are forced to marry for the happiness of their family. They are destined to obliterate their lives for the erroneous decisions taken by the male hegemony. Vishaka and Nittilai profoundly loved Yavakri and Arvasu respectively, but their love never ends in marriage due to their circumstances. Nittilai is forced to death by her husband and Vishaka is left alone by her husband for attending the fire ceremonial. Vishaka is also deceived by her lover as well as sexually tortured by her father-in-law. Karnad presents the value of humanity, love and benevolence that is rarely witnessed in the present scenario. He endeavoured to ameliorate the piteous situation of women in the Indian society for the right to choose their partners.