Chandalika
Thinking about the Play
1. Why does something so ordinary and commonplace as giving
water to a wayfarer become so significant to Prakriti?
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2. Why is the girl named Prakriti in the play? What are the images
in the play that relate to this theme?
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3. How does the churning of emotions bring about self-realisation
in Prakriti even if at the cost of her mother’s life?
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4. How does the mirror reflect the turmoil experienced by the monk
as a result of the working of the spell?
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5. What is the role of the mother in Prakriti’s self-realisation?
What are her hopes and fears for her daughter?
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6. ‘Acceptance of one’s fate is easy. Questioning the imbalance of
the human social order is tumultuous.’ Discuss with reference
to the play.
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Appreciation
1. How does the dramatic technique suit the theme of the play?
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2. By focusing attention on the consciousness of an outcast girl,
the play sensitises the viewer/reader to the injustice of
distinctions based on the accidents of human birth. Discuss
how individual conflict is highlighted against the backdrop of
social reality.
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3. ‘I will enthrone you on the summit of all my dishonour, and build
your royal seat of my shame, my fear and my joy’. Pick out more
such examples of the interplay of opposites from the text. What
does this device succeed in conveying?
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4. ‘Shadow, mist, storm’ on the one hand, ‘flames, fire,’ on the
other. Comment on the effect of these and similar images of
contrast on the viewer/reader.
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