Option 1
Argumentation:
"Connections to the Hero's Journey"
Make a claim about Rama as the hero. Develop evidence from multiple texts (research and citations)
and reasoning to support your claim.
Consider use of rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, pathos) to be persuasive.
Before the story, Rama was brave enough to go on the adventure with his mentor to kill demons
even though his dad did not want him to. He stringed and broke the great bow of Shiva that no other king
could bend. This is similar to a story in the odyssey where the main character stringed a bow that nobody
else could use. They are all strong and have similar experiences, with a noble family and having went to
exotic places. Vishwamitra asked that Rama get rid of the demons that were plaguing ashram dwellers.
Rama has dharma. For example, the youngest queen requested two promises that he gave him a
long time ago. The queen said that Rama should be exiled and that Bharat should replace him for fourteen
years. Rama agreed to be exiled because his "duty as [his father's] son is to honor his father's word" (54).
He had a choice between losing his position as king and being exiled for fourteen years and breaking an
old promise but he still chose to accept it. He was “not in the least pained by this order” (45), which shows
that he is so used to making decisions like these that he does not feel pain anymore.
Also, Rama allowed a stranger to go along with him. He could have been a spy, but Rama said that
it was the right thing to give protection him. “After all, one who seeks asylum must be given protection.
Whatever may happen later, it is our first duty to protect. Even if I am defeated because I have taken him
at his word, I would not mind it; I shall still have done the right thing” (132). This shows that he puts
helping others ahead of his success. He also trusts other people.
He also has dharma for his enemies. When his enemy fainted, he refused to attack. "It is not fair
warfare to attack a man who is in a faint. I will wait. Let him recover" (146). Even if he had lost because
he refused to attack, he would still have done the right thing and would not regret it. Most people would
just continue to attack. When the demon died and he saw a scar on his back, he was worried that he
attacked him when he was retreating, until he figured out that it was caused before the battle. This shows
that Rama knows what is right and what is wrong. Even though he was evil, Rama “[honored] him and
[cherished] his memory so that his spirit [went] to heaven" (147). This shows that Rama is forgiving.
Knowing what he is doing is right, he would be braver when doing it.
Overall, Rama puts righteousness about his own benefits, no matter how big of a risk it is. He is
righteous to everyone, including his enemies.