Somadeva

In Somadeva’s “The Red Lotus of Chastity” the story’s heroine Devasmitā employs the use of disguise in order to deceive a group of male antagonists who threaten both her virtue and her husband’s safety. These male antagonists (the sons of a merchant) ultimately fail as Devasmitā proves to be quick witted and immediately sees through them. Devasmitā also manages to not only use the art of disguise and deception to achieve her goals but she also uses it as an opportunity to unmask the merchant’s sons by branding them so that they will not be able to conceal their wicked deeds.

When the merchant’s sons seek out Devasmitā to destroy her virtue they hide behind a greedy and deceitful nun. The nun lies to our heroine and tries to persuade her of the merits of having an affair not realizing she immediately recognizes the nun for what she is: “‘What kind of moral duty is that?’ thought Devasmitā, who was clever enough. ‘This nun has some crooked scheme afoot’” (Somadeva 1277).  Playing along with the nun she enlists the help of her servant girls by having one of them masquerade as she when each of the merchant’s sons comes to her. One by one the sons fall victim to Devasmitā’s use of disguise and are branded.

Her work is not done at this point for she knows now that these men will seek revenge on her husband. As a woman Devasmitā is unable to proceed on her own so she “bravely disguises herself as a man and undertakes a perilous journey overseas to foil {the} evil plot” against her husband (Puchner 1273). She is victorious in her overseas endeavor as she had the foresight to brand her opponents, which not only adds validity to her claims but further humiliates the merchant’s sons. “The Red Lotus of Chastity” serves to “{detail} the lengths to which a husband and a wife can go in order to remain faithful” and to protect one another (1273).

Works Cited

Puchner, Martin. “Somadeva.” Beginnings to 1650. Ed. Puchner. Shorter 3^rd ed. New York:

            Norton, 2013. 1272-1274. Print. Vol. 1 of The Norton Anthology of World 

           Literature. 2 vols.

Somadeva. “The Red Lotus of Chastity.” Trans. J.A.B.  Van Buitenen. Beginnings to 1650. Ed. Martin Puchner. Shorter 3^rd ed. New York: Norton, 2013. 1274-1279. Vol. 1 of The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 2 vols.