Somadeva

            In Somadeva’s “The Red Lotus of Chastity,” the virtuous wife, Devasmita, disguised herself as a merchant in order to save her husband. The necessity of Devasmita’s disguise presents the strict role of women inside and outside of the home in India’s classical age. Devasmita was able to, without having to transform herself, fend off the three scoundrels as well as the deceiving nun who attempted to violate her chastity inside her room. She was wise, for she did not fall for the deception of the immoral nun. She was powerful, for she was able to fight off those who attempted to conduct a dishonorable act in her room. However, Devasmita began to worry about the life of her husband who was staying in a distant island. Thus, being inspired by the story of Saktimati who disguised herself to save her husband, Devasmita dressed herself and her maid as merchants and went on her journey to rescue her husband. Upon arriving on the island, Devasmita successfully prevented the three scoundrels, whom she encountered in her room, from inflicting revenge on her husband. In the process of saving her husband which took place outside of her home, Devasmita had to disguise herself as a man in order to carry out the task successfully.

            In “The Red Lotus of Chastity,” disguising as a man serves as the method of gaining power for women outside of the realm of home. Devasmita’s story shows that women, however powerful and wise, would need to resort to the identity as a man by disguise in order to achieve their goals which require actions outside of their homes which affirms the domestic role of women in the classical age of India.    

Works Cited

Somadeva. “The Red Lotus of Chastity.” Trans. J.A.B. van Buitenen. Beginnings to 1650. Ed. Peter Simon. 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013. 1274-1279. Print. Vol. 1 of The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Martin Puchner, gen. ed. 2 vols.