Journal 4

Rama sympathized with Sugreva when Sugreva tells him how his brother tried to kill him. I think Rama relates tothis. Rama was given power but then was thrown into exile. Sugreva tried to give power Back to his brother. Rama probably sympathizes with this because his situation is similar. Vali took sugrevas wife forcibly. Rama simpathized with this part of the situation because his own wife was taken from him. Ravana taking Sita was one of the biggest reasons that Rama helped Sugreva. I think Vali was in the wrong. Vali did not listen to his brother when he came home. Even with the misunderstanding Vali was in the wrong when he took Sugreveas wife.

The event reminds me of the situation in Israel. Israel is one small country fighting to stay alive. Vali is like all of the Arabic countries surrounding it. Sugreva is fighting to stay Alive. In the end sugreva asks Rama for help. This is like the United States helping Israel

Journal 6

The fact that all of the weapons are used in the final battle shows that the final battle is spiritual rather than a literal battle. Rama and Ravana both use asthras which are magical weapons given to them by the gods. Rama magically has a counter for each one of Ravana's asthras. Thi9s shows that this is a battle of the wise versus the ignorant. Ravana throws weapons that are used as evil even though they don't have to be. Rama is considered the wise one in the battle. Instead of attacking Ravana he uses his weapons to just evade Ravana's attacks. By doing this, Rama makes Ravana agry. While angry Ravana makes mistakes. These mistakes cost him his life. In the end Wisdom defeated ignorance. One of Rama's weapons is even called Gnana which means wisdom.

Chapter 7 & 8

I do think women cause a lot of the difficulties in society. Sita causes all of Rama's problems in the second half of the story. Sita's wants preceeded all common sense on Rama's part. Sita makes Rama try to catch a golden deer. If it weren't for Sita, Rama would have stayed at camp and not gone chasing after a deer. If Rama had been able to protect Sita then he would not have to go on a wild goose chase across the world looking for her. Females also caused problems in the monkey kingdom. Tara practically caused the second monkey fight. Tara told Vali not to go after his brother. By saying that a fight was destined to be. By telling Vali to back down went completely against the male ego. Tara was also one of the reasons that Rama shot Vali. Rama decided that forcibly take Tara as his wife was evil. Rama had to kill al evil so he shot him with an arrow. At least in this book women cause problems for society