LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 16:1 January 2016
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Theme of Responsibility in Girish Karnad’s Yayati

L. Rani, M.A., M.Phil., B.Ed.


Abstract

Drama is the oldest literary art which is meant for stage and action. Many Indian English dramas are found to explore the base ancient folktales and myths. Girish Karnad reshapes the theme, content and thoughts of ancient myth for readers and spectators of contemporary literature. His plays put forward a different problem, the identification of a human being in this world of strange relationship. In Yayati, Karnad deals with the theme of responsibilities and deals the exchange of ages between the father and his son. In Yayati, all the characters are irresponsible. The protagonist, Yayati, is an irresponsible king and father. Pooru though a considerate son, shirks his responsibility as a husband. Chitralekha though irresponsibility chooses to commit suicide by consuming poison, doesn’t want to die at the very last minute. A thematic analysis of Karnad’s plays based on myths and folktales reveals the fact that Karnad very convincingly gives voice to the ambiguous concerns of the postcolonial age. Karnad adopts the western techniques, but employs them in his theatre through indigenous narrative techniques. He has maintained his distinction in the thematic selection. Karnad proves himself as a true post-colonial playwright both in terms of themes and presentation.

Keywords: Girish Karnad, Yayati, thematic analysis, folktales, western techniques in Indian plays.

Introduction

Among all the literary forms, drama is an important audio-visual medium of expression. Girish Karnad is the most renowned media personality in the contemporary India, leading playwright and a very skillful practitioner of the performing arts. In the dramas of Girish Karnad, myth is not merely a ritual or a structural device. It is a means of exploring a modern outcome of a traditional situation. Karnad tries to establish a ‘dialectical relationship between tradition and modernity which is a central theme in contemporary Indian society. Karnad does not employ the myths in their entirely. He picks up threads of legends and folk tales that the finds useful. He adds his imagination to construct the plot for these tales.

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L. Rani, M.A., M.Phil., B.Ed.
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