Background
While society is depicted in The Mahabharata as having strict gender expectations and limitations for women, the text’s sympathy for the main female characters, Draupadi, Kunti, and Gandhari, as they challenge these expectations, varies. Therefore, in this paper, through a close analysis of The Mahabharata, women are portrayed as subservient to men and expected to strictly adhere to social norms, primarily as wives and mothers. The text frequently portrays how female characters violate these expectations in sympathetic and unsympathetic ways, reinforcing societal norms and patriarchal structures.
The Proper Place and Behavior of Women in Society
Women are depicted in The Mahabharata as being subordinate to men in the social hierarchy. The text emphasizes that women should be obedient to and behave in a way that is subservient to men. Their primary responsibilities are those of a faithful wife and mother. The text, however, also demonstrates that women have agency and can play substantial roles in society (Smith 33).
In the text, Draupadi, Kunti, and Gandhari defy societal expectations (Smith 69). Draupadi, married to five men, challenges patriarchal authority and goes against societal monogamy norms. This aspect is also seen when Draupadi says, “These husbands of mine were in terrible straits, but they have been rescued, and they will live to see good fortunes through acts of virtue, zero kings!” (Smith 154).
Moreover, Kunti challenges the social norm that says women should be married and subject to their husbands by being single mothers. As a devoted wife and mother, Gandhari conforms to social standards but demonstrates strength and autonomy in her choices. Hence, the Mahabharata portrays women as inferior to men, yet acknowledges their agency and ability to defy social norms.
Role of a Woman as a Wife
The three main female characters—Draupadi, Kunti, and Gandhari—present a nuanced understanding of the function of wives in The Mahabharata. As a result of a miscommunication, Draupadi is depicted as a victim of circumstance who was forced to wed all five Pandava brothers(Smith 69). She is first regarded as a prized possession after winning a Swayamvar, and she is later used as collateral in a dice game and stripped in front of a crowd (Smith 131).
Draupadi’s future holds a worse fate; when all else fails, her eldest husband, Yudhishthira, uses her as collateral in a dice game against his cousin Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas. She was humiliated after being stripped in front of everyone else. Draupadi says, “Do not strip my clothes from me! Do not drag me!” (Smith 144). Draupadi still follows her husband into exile despite these traumatic events while sacrificing everything necessary to her, thus illustrating her commitment, tenacity, and bravery in fulfilling her duty as a wife. Draupadi is revered as the tenacious virgin goddess betrayed by her husbands in South India.
Kunti is portrayed as a devoted wife who prioritizes her husband’s and family’s needs over her own. When he brings her home, Kunti instructs Arjuna to divide Draupadi among his brothers. Draupadi finds this choice challenging, but preserving brotherly harmony and upholding the family’s honor is necessary. Despite her reservations, Kunti demonstrates her love for her husband, Pandu, by accompanying him on his voluntary exile in the forest (Smith 157).
The story of Gandhari is one of selflessness and devotion to her husband. She blindfolds herself in solidarity with her blind husband after learning of his condition. Though admirable, this choice can also be seen as a disempowering capitulation to her husband’s desires. But later, when Gandhari uses her newly acquired abilities to fortify her son Duryodhana’s body, her sacrifice pays off.
Role of a Woman as a Mother
The mother of the Pandavas, Kunti, is initially portrayed as a devout and responsible woman who takes good care of her sons and instills in them essential morals. She shows her love for her sons by staying with them throughout their years of exile. However, Kunti lacked judgment when she asked her sons to share Draupadi as their wife, which ultimately resulted in the tragic events of The Mahabharata (Smith 72-73).
Kunti says. “All of you share equally! Only then did she see the girl and exclaimed, Alas, for my words!” (Smith 72). Being the mother of the Pandavas but not of their shared wife, Draupadi, complicates Kunti’s role as a mother.
Moreover, Kunti gave birth to three sons, while Pandu’s second wife gave birth to twins. After Pandu and Madri passed away, Kunti was left to raise the children by herself; thus, she represents the challenges of single motherhood. Despite being Kunti’s stepchildren, Nakul and Sehdeva, she is not prejudiced against them. Kunti and Gandhari desire the best for their kids and hope their sons will win the battle of Kurukshetra (Smith772). Thus, to convince Krsna to support the Pandavas and become their ally, Kunti swallowed her pride and approached him.
Similar conflicts plague Gandhari in her capacity as a mother, the mother of the Kauravas. She is a devoted and loving mother who genuinely cares about her children. However, she is oblivious to Duryodhana’s faults and chooses to stand by him even when he is at fault because she loves him dearly. She ultimately contributes to the demise of her entire family by refusing to accept her son’s shortcomings.
The Mahabharata downplays Draupadi’s motherly responsibilities. Although she has five sons—one by each of her husbands—they are only a minor part of the narrative. Draupadi is also portrayed as a robust, independent wife who stands up for justice and her husband’s rights (Smith 73). Nevertheless, her desire for vengeance against the Kauravas and her readiness to sacrifice her sons to achieve it raise concerns about her parenting abilities.
Presentation of Female Characters: Transgressions Against Societal Expectations
The transgressions of the main female characters are frequently sympathetically depicted in the text. This aspect is demonstrated by Draupadi, who, despite being stripped of her clothes and treated with contempt in front of the group, is still devoted, persistent, and brave in her devotion to her husband. She is portrayed as a strong and resilient character who can endure even the most trying circumstances, despite being a victim of her circumstances.
Similarly, Kunti’s previous transgression with the god Surya is depicted sympathetically because she was forced to deal with the fallout and raise the child that resulted from that encounter (Smith 72). This sympathy is seen when “Draupadi remained full of great joy, but Kunti was fearful of breaching and ashamed” (Smith 72). The story also shows her commitment to and love for her kids as she goes to great lengths to keep them safe.
In contrast, Gandhari is portrayed as an unfortunate individual who gives up her sight willingly to share in her husband’s impairment. Gandhari’s husband says, “Heir of Bharata, look at your mother Gandhari; look too at me, your old blind father who stands here praying for your virtues”(Smith 155). Although the story portrays this act as a submission to societal norms, it does so in a manner that evokes compassion for her suffering (Smith 68). As a result, even though the story upholds traditional gender roles and expectations, it also depicts the main female characters as complex people capable of defying expectations and enduring adversity with fortitude and resilience.
Work Cited
Smith, John D. Mahabharata. Penguin, 2010.