A Study in Womanhood-Dhāriṇi & Irāvatī Contrasted in Mālavikāgnimitra

Abstract

Kālidāsa’s Poetry owns a prime position in Indian literary tradition. Mālavikāgnimitra, the first drama of Kālidasa, depicts the story of King Agnimitra’s love towards Mālavika, an unknown beautiful girl living in the royal harem. This play is a court comedy of royal love, in which harem jealousies and court intrigues mingle to raise romantic situations of love. Kālidāsa’s skill in creating dramatic situations is beyond doubt. He may even surprise a reader by his awareness of social problems. Here is an attempt to study the contrasted characters of Dhāriṇi and Irāvati, the two wives of Agnimitra, as depicted by Kālidāsa.

Keywords

• womanhood
• contrast
• sympathetic
• jealous
• royal
• harem
• intrigue.