Yesha Bhatt

1. The curse or Karna
T. P. Kailasam
Yesha Bhatt
Yesha Bhatt
Department of English

2. T. P. Kailasam 1884 - 1946
• Tyagraj Paramasiva Iyer
Kailasam
• A playwright and prominent
writer of Kannada literature.
• The father of humorous plays
• Called "Kannadakke Obbane
Kailasam" meaning "One and
Only Kailasam for Kannada".
• He introduced simple, realistic
sets for drama
• Known for wit and satirical
commentary on society

3. The Curse or Karna
• An impression of Sophocles in five acts
• First published: 10th September, 1946
• Re-published: 29th July, 1969
• Life of Karna – a Tragic character of
Mahabharata
• “Even he used classical themes,
his purpose was contemporary” –
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Vice-
president of India (1960)
• “My love for thee reveals to me
that Fate hath wove thy life and
death in threads of Tragedy” -
Raama

4. Brief
overview
• Act I –
S I – Karna leaves Aashram
S II - Karna and Raama (Parshuram cursed Karna) -
Aashram
• Act II – Competition at Hastinapur – The Royal stadium
• Act III- Draupadi Swayamvara – Palace of Panchal (35-36)
S I – Draupadi insulted Anga
S ll – Anga recalls the curse he has
• Act lV – Cheerharan – Karna tried to save Draupadi –
Falls in the arms of Bheemsena
• Act V – Battle field of Kurukshetra
S l - Karna’s encounter with Kunti
S ll – Arjuna and Karna’s fight - Death

5. Deconstruction of myth in The Curse
• Parshuram in myths vs Raama in The Curse
• Parshuram’s guilt in The Curse (Tragic life of Karna)
• Draupadi in Myths vs Paanchaalee in The Curse
• Duryodhana in Myths vs Suyodhana in The Curse
• Suyodhana’s question and explanation to
Bheeshma’s Pratigya
• All Acts end with same dialogue – “Poor, Honest,
Anga..”
• Approach of all characters to Anga

6. Class-conflict and caste-conflict
• Parshuram: Dedicated to Brahmins
• Draunacharya: Dedicated to Kshatriyas
• Royal battles: only with Royal blood (Kings)
• Karna: not a Brahmin, Not a Kshatriya, Not a
king
• Karna’s implied identity – Sootha
• Education – Battles – Marriage – Respect –
Kingship
• A worthy man excluded by all because of his
(low) birth

7. Karna with special reference to the concept of
subaltern.
• It refers to the populations that are socially,
politically and geographically outside of the
hegemonic power structure of the colony and of
the colonial homeland.
• Karna- The tragic character with tragic fate –
Illegitimate, Abandoned, lowborn
• Marginalised by Gurus, Warriors, princess
Paanchaalee, Kings
• He was just able to speak – “A Brahmin’s Curse”
• His identity was of marginalised people, he
deserved to be at centre, the struggle and society
caused his death

8. Unsung hero of
Mahabharata
• More credible than all Pandavas –
Daanveer, Noble, Humble, Powerful
• In Kurukshetra he was defeated by
Krishna’s trick and Indra’s trick
• The only one who followed Dharma
throughout the life
• Self-made man
• Valued relation – Parents – Kunti –
Duryodhan
• Krishna considered him as the most
powerful than all Pandavas, even Arjun
• Wanted to be known as Radheya

9. Themes in “The Curse”
• Curse – Morher earth, Parshuraam, A
Brahmin
• Casteism – Education, marriage, battles
• Friendship - Loyalty, duty, chivalry, bond
• Destiny – Tragic fate – “Poor, poor, Anga”
• Spirit – Of life, optimism, tried a lot to fight
• Karma – by karma, he was the one who
deserved
• Betrayal – Karna to Parshuram, Kunti to
Karna, indra to Karna, Krishna to Karna, Arjun
to Karna