Rachel Clark Period 3 3/13/12

The weapons the main characters use speak volumes about their personalities; Ravana, who is a devious fellow, uses tricks and dishonest means to try to get an edge on Rama. Rama, however, is dharma, and uses only honest and true means for a fair fight. Ravana tricks Sita into believing her husband is dead, twice. Once with a fake beheaded head, and once by showing her Rama's faint body. I believe these count as weapons because he is trying to turn Sita away from Rama. Another weapon Ravana uses is a shower of arrows. But because Rama is dharma, the arrows break before they reach him. Ravana then resorts to supernatural gifts he recieved from the gods. He uses "asthras", which are weapons that are powered by the supernatural. He uses one called "Maya" that confuses, and tries to trick, the enemy with illusions. Once again, Ravana is using dishonest means to one-up Rama. Since Rama is dharma, he shall be blessed with good weapons. He utilizes a monkey army, courtesy of his friend, the monkey king Vali. He too uses arrows, but they do not harm Ravana. Rama is also given a gift from the gods in the form of a magical chariot. Because he is dharma, he is right, and he will prevail in battle. Ravana's choice of "Maya", which serves to create illusions and confuse Rama, speaks about his character. Ravana is using a corrupt asthra to win over Rama. He tries to decieve Rama, thinking he will give up. Rama counters this attack with "Gnana", or wisdom and perception. He uses the good, honest truth to guide his ways. Ravana's next weapon was "Thama", intending to create a total darkness. The darkness enveloped the world and served as a symbol into Ravana's dark soul eneveloping his being. Rama opposed this asthra with "Shivasthra", which was a calm, understanding of the phenomenon, which tells us that Rama understood all things and achieved dharma. When Ravana sends out his best weapon, the trident, he is sure of the kill. However, it never touches Rama. He speaks an incantation of true dharma and is unharmed. Rama is too good for any evil to touch. Whatever Ravana throws at Rama, Rama can not be hurt. After a while of just arrows, Ravana falls into a faint and Rama refuses to attack until he recovers. Rama is not taking an unfair advantage because it is not the right thing to do. When Ravana does awaken, Rama finally unleashes

"Brahmasthra". It was a special gift by the gods, only to be used when everything esle failed. He aimed at Ravana's heart, and it struck. Ravana was no more.