Lindsey Collen's Rape of Sita

When Rape of Sita was first published it was immediately attacked because of the title linking the Hindu goddess Sita, who symbolized chastity, to the word “rape.” Even though Collen’s novel does focus around political struggles, literature is not politics. However, literature is able to be a form of social action. What is literature is it doesn’t post those crucial questions that get humans thinking? Collen believes in reflecting on concrete situations and posing moral dilemmas in literature. For her it is a way to share experiences towards the “other” (Williams 201). The Rape of Sita is a part of a postmodern turn to ethics. Where it uses language to make political comments suggesting a new perspective on history. Williams examines how The Rape of Sita calls for that change in attitudes through its narrative structure and symbolism. Which in turns allows for the story of rape to be told differently.
Williams first examines the narrative technique being based on the oral tradition and is very significant. She goes on to examine how Ramayana inspires the narrative techniques. Which happened to be transmitted by several narrators. Which resulted in many different versions of the story. Collen explains that her technique is also based on African traditions of storytelling. The use of “Once Upon a Time,” gives the audience a break from the real world and an entrance into another world, into an old story. She further comments on the use of several narrative levels. How Iqbal’s narrative is regularly interrupted. He states, “There is no limit to the interruptions allowed to my story. This is normal. It’s a story” (Collen 41). However, Iqbal also interrupts the novel, himself. Where he directly addresses the audience, posing moral que...

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...lieve Williams is right about Collen sharing these experiences and then opening up the “other.” Bringing new light to a whole new way to look at the experiences in order to unearth the functioning of patriarchy. Lastly, I also agree with Williams that The Rape of Sita is an “anti-novel” because of it turning away from traditional storytelling and opening up to a new way of reading. Allowing the reader to some how be a part of the narrative and actually pose moral dilemmas throughout it. Forcing the reader to cooperate and be active.

Works Cited

Collen, Lindsey. The Rape of Sita. New York: Feminist, 2004. Print.
Williams-Wanquet, Eileen. ""Anti-Novel" as Ethics: Lindsey Collen's The Rape of Sita." Connotations 15.1-3 (2005-2006): 200-14. Eileen Williams-Wanquet. 2005. Web. 14 May 2014. http://www.connotations.uni-tuebingen.de/williams-wanquet01513.htm