Name: GALAGALA, EWAN MARY ROSE P.

Year & Section: BSCE-2B

Instructor: MS. CRISTINE GULFO
Asian Literature

1. What point of view is used by Tagore in Mahamaya? Does his angle of narration freely enable him to tell what he likes to
emphasize and omit what he wants to play down?
 Tagore used Third Person’s (omniscient) Point of View. And yes, his angle of narration did enable him to tell what he likes to
emphasize. Using third person’s point of view in stories like this is effective. As said, it enables the author to narrate the story the way
he wants. It kind of gave him the freedom to express the story on his own style and omit what he wants to play down.
2. This selection is one of those stories of Tagore published between 1893 to 1895 prove this through an analysis of his style?
Mahamaya is a story reflecting the customs of ancient India about marriage. As I noticed, Tagore used the ‘old
style/traditional style’ in writing this story. He used ‘traditional’ terms which aim to bring the exact feeling or vibe to the readers. He
also used more adjectives to describe situations and express emotions that he wants to relay. Also, some terms used were old
English like instead of using ‘noon’ he used ‘midday’. The story is also very detailed which is good to avoid confusions for the
readers. He also doesn’t lose track and focused mainly on the customs and traditions of Indian people. He also described the
position of women in Indian society that time which was unequal.
3. What advantage is there by having Mahamaya’s beauty licked by the flames of the funeral pyre? Does it achieve Tagore’s intention
as author?
 Having Mahamaya’s beauty licked by fire led to the conclusion of the story. It brought an advantage since it brought her back to her
senses that she shouldn’t be with Rajib because she is already married and what they did is against their tradition. And yes, it
achieved Tagore’s intention as the author because he brought the realization that respect towards tradition always comes first. He
smoothly shifted the flow of the story, from romance into something about how important customs & traditions are.
4. In this story, Tagore unveils ancient Indian marriage customs and practices. Point them out.
 Bhavanicharan gave crimson silk ‘sari’ to Mahamaya and told her to put it on at once.
 When Mahamaya was arranged to marry an old Brahmin man.
 The wedding ceremony was held on a hut for sheltering dying men by the holy river’s side.
 There was a priest to lead the ceremony and muttered sacred texts as the marriage was celebrated.
 There was a grand ceremony at the burning ‘ghat’ as Mahamaya was going to burn herself with her husband’s corpse.
 When Mahamaya told Rajib that she’s no longer the same Mahamaya after her wedding. He asked Rajib if heis okay with her never
drawing her veil aside and never to look on her face.
5. State the general idea of the story.
The story is about a twenty four years old beautiful woman who fell in love with a with a man named Rajib. On a midday one
day, they met at the ruined temple on the river bank and then Rajib asked Mahamaya to marry him. But Mahamaya refused. Rajib
told the woman that he’s leaving.
 During noontide, Bhavanicharan, Mahamaya’s brother caught them and asked his sister to come with him. But before
Mahamaya left, he told Rajib to wait for him. As the night came, Mahamaya found out that she’s about to marry a dying old Brahmin.
The day after their wedding, she became a widow. With that, she needed to let her body get burn together with the old man’s corpse.
But when the burning start, a strong rain and storm poured making the fire stop. With that, Mahamaya went to Rajib as she promised.
But she told Rajib that she’s no longer the same.
The general idea of the story is about the importance of social status in ancient India when it comes to choosing who they
marry. It contains Indian customs and practices that needs to be followed and performed in an Indian wedding. The whole story tells
us a lesson also. It says that in a community there is culture. There are rules. And in order for you to be truly happy, you need to
follow those no matter how hard they might be.

6. Create a character web showing the relationship of characters in Mahamaya.

BHAVANICHARAN
CHATTOPANYAY
o Brother of Mahamaya
o Took care of Mahamaya
o Feared by Many

RAHIB
OLD BRAHMIN MAN
o Lover of Mahamaya
o Dying old man MAHAMAYA o Works for Sahib
o Married to Mahamaya

o Kulin’s daughter
o Twenty four years old
o Like an image of pure gold
o With a gaze free and fearless as
daylight
o Lover of Rajib