Week 3 Topic Research: Hanuman


We haven't yet gotten to Hanuman, but I thought it would be interesting to write my project about him. Some thoughts I had on the type of story I'd like to write about him:
  1. Why is he so loyal to Rama? Maybe I would explore their backstory/history a little. Maybe I'll spin it to be an Androcles and the Lion type of history, where Rama saves Hanuman from some dire threat, resulting in Hanuman's eternal loyalty to Rama. They are free to go their own way, but when Rama is in trouble, Hanuman unexpectedly shows up and returns the favor.
  2. Since the only thing I know about Hanuman is the epic feat(s) involving moving the mountain, I could also write a story about how he uses hides his powers (maybe because of a past accident?), then reveals them at the last moment, despite it going against his vow to never use them again. It's the kind of story that the reader can emotionally connect with. A character with a mysterious past, slowly revealed as the story goes on, that shows glimpses and fragments that the reader has to piece together. 
  3. A fellow student in this class informed me through my previous brainstorming post that Hanuman is also quite significant in Thai culture, that is, in the Ramakien, which is basically a Thai take on the Ramayana. Interestingly, Hanuman is depicted as a white monkey, and is clad in armor and wears a crown; it seems like he is held in higher regard to the Thai than the Indian Hanuman to the Indians. Maybe I could explore the reason why their views are different. Perhaps Hanuman is travelling and did something that left more of an impact on the people in the Thai region.
(Thai depiction of Hanuman, from Wikipedia)

Maybe this will develop into a (double) fictional recollection of the history of Hanuman...


Smith

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