In the novel, Arrow of the Blue Skinned God, Jonah Blank tells the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, as he travels across India in the footsteps of the protagonist, Rama, comparing and contrasting the modern Indian values with those found in the text. In doing so, Blank questions the duality of good and evil, as do most Indians who read the epic, coming to the conclusion that good and evil are one in the same. This view, in turn, is compatible with the Hindu views of dharma. All things are a part of the cosmic order that is dharma, and if one follows one’s dharma, he is virtuous, with moralistic ideas like good and evil just being different perversions of virtue. Rama is a man that is bound by his dharma more than any other in this epic. He is sent …show more content…
Rama is a more common view of virtue, doing, generally, what is deemed morally correct and not reprehensible. Ravana, on the other hand, is virtuous in his own right, attempting to avenge those who were his followers, who were killed by Rama. His actions are just a perversion of virtue that contrasts with that of Rama as he is in conflict with Rama. His kidnapping of Sita was merely a means to an end, with the end being the death of Rama and the avenging of his sister Surpanakha and her demon brother Khava and his followers. His actions are all to that end, and what causes him to ultimately fail in his goal is his character flaw, not his perceived evil nature. Rama is a man with virtually no character flaws-- a man who follows his dharma nearly blindly, while Ravana is a demon who follows his dharma exceptionally well, but has his decisions blinded by his pride, causing his downfall. Dharma is neither inherently good or evil, but shades of both. What causes one to see good or evil in actions is their perception of the situation. Rama and Ravana both take actions that can be perceived as evil, but both are still virtuous in terms of dharma. What truly separates them is how they are framed in the Ramayana and therefore, the perspective the reader has of the