Searching for Humans' Affinity with Nature: Hindu Religious Beliefs and Philosophical Ideas in Kalidasa's Shakuntala

• Main Authors: Chen-chi Chang, 張珍奇
• Other Authors: Catherine Diamond
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/27850614769749922728

碩士 === 東吳大學 === 英文學系 === 97 === 　　In Kalidasa’s play Shakuntala, the Hindu ideals of harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world are expressed. The heroine Shakuntala shows her intimacy for the trees and the animals, and the hero Dushyanta shows his compassion for the animals as well. However, in the epic version, Dushyanta is described as a brutal king when he hunts and kills animals in the forest. Therefore, not only will I deal with Shakuntala’s affinity with the natural world, but also attempt to clarify Kalidasa’s reasons for the changes in Dushyanta’s attitudes toward the animal life in the play. I will use Hindu religious beliefs (vegetarianism and reincarnation) and philosophical ideas (dharma and the unity of atman and Brahman) to show the ecological concepts expressed in the play Shakuntala as well as humans’ affinity with the natural world. 　　This thesis is divided into five parts, including introduction, three chapters and conclusion. First of all, the importance of the play and the author’s biography are provided in the introduction. In addition, this chapter will illustrate the similarities and differences between the play and the epic as well as the author’s motivation for the adaptation. In the second chapter, Hindu religious beliefs – vegetarianism and reincarnation – are discussed in detailed as well as the examples are taken from the Hindu scriptures demonstrating that Hindus shows respect for the plants, the animals, and the planets to provide a solid background for the play. In the third chapter, I attempt to apply two Hindu philosophical ideas – dharma and the unity of atman and Brahman – to the play itself. Finally, I present a conclusion and provide a condensed summary of the whole thesis.