The stories of heroes have been broadly presented in literature since ancient times. Heroic characters tend to display various human traits focusing on their strengths and abilities to conquer enemies and overcome difficulties. In Indian literature, prince Rama from the book of The Ramayana appears as a particular example of a hero. In Western literature, the Bible is a source of various heroic stories, including the one of king David and his peculiar journey. Both Rama and David share several similar characteristics, such as being the chosen ones, having deadly battles with their enemies, and experiencing challenges in their love lives. Although the narratives of the two heroes are similar, they differ in how these men were chosen by the divine, their motivation in battles with the beasts, and their journey toward love fulfillment.
One of the significant traits indicating Rama and David as heroes is that both of them were chosen by the divine but in a different manner. The story of Rama suggests that a holy figure, Narad, asks a hermit whether there is a person on Earth “who is virtuous, heroic, true” (The Ramayana, Book I, Canto I). Narad and the hermit are listing numerous virtues of such a hero, and the hermit says that there is one exceptional man named Rama. Notably, the hermit mentions that Rama is a “peer of Vishnu’s power and might,” pointing at the deity’s presence in this hero (The Ramayana, Book I, Canto 1). As the story develops, a reader reveals that Rama is born as a prince to a king’s family, so he obtains nobility from a young age. By contrast, in The Book of Samuel, David does not appear as a hero from the beginning. David appears as the youngest son in Jesse’s family, who helps his father to keep the sheep (Old Testament, Samuel 1, 16:11). The Lord’s decision to choose David was motivated by looking into one’s heart, not “outward appearance” (Old Testament, Samuel 1, 16:7). Therefore, both heroes were chosen by the divine, but while Rama’s nobility was determined by birth, David used to be an average young man and gained the regards over time.
Another peculiar characteristic of both heroes refers to their battles against evil forces. In heroic literature, it is an essential part of a story when a character has to overcome severe obstacles and prove their strength. In the case of Rama, his ultimate enemy was Ravan, an evil creature who insulted Rama’s beloved one, Sita (The Ramayana, Book III, Canto XLIX). Hero’s motivation to conquer Ravan is based on the heartbreak for Sita and the desire to take revenge. Rama makes several attempts to kill Ravan, but only at the end of the story can the reader finally witness how “dead he [Ravan] fell upon the plain” (The Ramayana, Book III, Canto CX). Unlike Rama, David meets evil forces face to face for different reasons. When Goliath threatens to enslave the Israelites, David responds that he will make the world know “that there is a God in Israel” (Old Testament, Samuel 1, 17:46). David’s motivation to kill Goliath relies on his commitment to the Lord and the urge to protect Israelites against Philistine’s invasion. In such a way, both Rama and David defeat their enemies, but Rama appears to be motivated by his personal reasons while David serves God’s mission and defends a whole nation.
Henceforth, the characters of Rama and David display human traits, amongst which love for a woman might seem the most peculiar. The love stories of the two heroes are similar in terms of the obstacles the two men have to overcome. Speaking of Rama, he falls in love with Sita at first sight and cannot hide “the load” borne by his heart (The Ramayana, Book II, Canto XXVI). Their relationship with her is depicted as happy and fulfilling until Ravan appears in their lives (The Ramayana, Book III, Canto XLIX). Eventually, Sita becomes the love of Rama’s life, and the man lives through various challenging experiences to reunite with her after Ravan’s intervention. By contrast, David fell in love with the wife of Uriah, the warrior, who eventually died in the fight against Joab’s forces (Old Testament, Samuel 2, 11:17). Unlike Rama, who had a chance to enjoy happy relationships and then had to protect them, David has to overcome the obstacle first to receive a chance to become a husband. However, while the death of Ravan appears justified, the killing of Uriah, although by the hands of others, not David’s, seems to be a sin.
All in all, Rama and David are prominent literary heroes whose journeys include the calling from the divine, battles against evil forces, and challenges in their love relationships. While Rama received the recognition of the divine from his birth, David was chosen by God as a man of true heart. The heroes’ motivations in battles differ, implying personal reasons for Rama and social reasons for David. While Rama had to protect his right to relationship with Sita, David’s actions to deserve his wife seem more questionable and humanlike.
Works Cited
“Old Testament (Various Authors), Samuel.” Online Library of Liberty.
“The Ramayana.” Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith, The Project Gutenberg.