Comparative Study of Orlando with Literature & cinema.pptx

comparative study of "Orlando" with Indian mythology

1. Comparative S tudy of Orlando with Literature & cinema Presented by Jatin Varu

2. PERSONAL INFORMATION Presented By :- Jatin varu Roll No :- 11 Enrollment Number :- 510823004 9 Semester :- 2 Paper No :- 106 Paper Name & Code :- The Twentieth Century Literature: 1900 to World War II (22399) Presentation Topic :- Comparative study of Orlando with Literature & Cinema Submitted To :- Smt. S.B. Gardi, Department of English (MKBU) Email ID :- [email protected]

3. TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview of Orlando 02 01 04 03 Overview of Shikhandi 05 06 Similarities between Orlando & Shikhandi Indian cinema & novel References About Author

4. 1 About Author Virginia Woolf was a famous British writer born on January 25, 1882, in London. She is known for her pioneering works in modernist literature during the early 20th century. Woolf was a key figure in the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of intellectuals and artists. Her most famous novels include "Mrs. Dalloway," "To the Lighthouse," and "Orlando." Woolf's writing style often focused on the interior lives of her characters and explored themes of consciousness and perception. She struggled with mental illness throughout her life, experiencing periods of severe depression. In 1941, Woolf tragically died by suicide at the age of 59. Despite her struggles, her contributions to literature continue to be celebrated and studied worldwide. ( Reid )

5. 2 Overview of Orlando “ Orlando” is a unique biographical novel inspired by the family history of Woolf's friend, Vita Sackville-West, who lived in Knole estate. The story starts in 1588 with a young boy named Orlando who writes a poem called "The Oak Tree." Orlando becomes popular at the Elizabethan court and falls in love with a princess from Russia. He has conversations about literature with a poet named Sir Nicholas Greene, who's similar to Sir Edmund Gosse. ( Britannica ) ( Ideogram )

6. Overview of Orlando Later, during the time of Charles II, Orlando becomes an ambassador and gets a fancy title. One strange night, Orlando falls asleep as a man and wakes up as a woman. As a woman, Orlando enjoys the intellectual society of London in different historical periods. But sometimes, she also likes to hang out in the lively streets, By 1928, Orlando returns to London and reunites with her friend Greene, who helps her publish her poem. ( Britannica ) ( Ideogram )

7. 3 Overview of Shikhandi According to the article , Shikhandi's gender identity evolves over the course of the mythological tale: Shikhandi was originally born as a woman named Amba in a previous life. After being rejected by Bhishma and unable to take revenge as a woman, Amba took rebirth through the boon of Lord Shiva as Shikhandi - a eunuch/transgender child of King Drupada. The article states that Shikhandi is described as a "eunuch" in the Mahabharata, but the author Devdutt Pattanaik points out that Shikhandi is actually a "transsexual" - someone who transitions from one gender to another. So Shikhandi's gender identity transitions from female (Amba) to a transgender male/transsexual person (Shikhandi) across the mythological tale. The article highlights that Shikhandi's gender fluidity, being "a woman and a man in the same body", allowed them to take revenge on Bhishma in the Mahabharata battle. So in essence, Shikhandi's gender identity transcends the male-female binary and represents a transgressively queer figure that defies normative gender categories in Indian mythology. ( Lakshmi )

8. Gender Fluidity:- Shikhandi from the Mahabharata and Orlando from Virginia Woolf's novel "Orlando" are two characters with a similarity.In the Mahabharata, Shikhandi transitions from being a woman (Amba) to becoming a man (Shikhandi).This transition mirrors the transformation of Orlando in Woolf's novel, who starts as a male nobleman and later becomes a female.Both characters undergo a change in gender, which reflects themes of gender fluidity or transition. (Bheda) Finding Themselves:- Both characters go on journeys to figure out who they really are. Orlando explores different parts of themselves beyond just being male or female, while Shikhandi struggles with being accepted as a different gender in ancient India. Big Deals in Stories:- Orlando and Shikhandi are important figures in stories that have been told for a long time. They represent ideas about gender, identity, and what society expects from people. Orlando's story is famous for showing how someone can change genders, and Shikhandi’s story challenges what people thought about gender roles long ago. 4 Similarities between Orlando & Shikhandi

9. 5 Indian cinema & Orlando "Laxmii" is a Bollywood movie released in 2020. It features a transgender character named Laxmii, portrayed by actor Sharad Kelkar. The story revolves around Laxmii's spirit possessing the body of the main protagonist, played by Akshay Kumar. The movie addresses societal attitudes towards transgender individuals in India. It highlights the discrimination and prejudice faced by transgender people in Indian society. Laxmii's character challenges traditional gender norms and expectations. The film aims to raise awareness about transgender issues and promote acceptance and inclusivity. While the movie received mixed reviews, it sparked conversations about transgender representation in Indian cinema. "Laxmii" faced criticism for casting a cisgender actor in the role of a transgender character, sparking discussions about authentic representation and opportunities for transgender actors in Bollywood. (Lawrence)

10. Similarities between Orlando & Laxmii Exploration of Gender Identity:- Both works delve into themes of gender identity and transformation. In "Laxmii," the protagonist is possessed by the ghost of a transgender woman, blurring the lines between genders. Similarly, in "Orlando," the titular character undergoes a gender transformation from man to woman, exploring the fluidity of gender identity. Historical Context:- "Orlando" covers many different times in history and how people lived during those times. Likewise, "Laxmii" talks about the culture and beliefs in India, especially about ghosts and transgender people. Challenges and Acceptance:- Both stories show how hard it is for characters who don't fit into typical ideas about gender. In "Orlando," the main character faces pressure and difficulties because they change gender. In "Laxmii," the possessed character deals with unfair treatment because of their link to a transgender ghost. Representation of Transformation:- In both stories, main characters go through big changes. In "Laxmii," one is taken over by a ghost, while in "Orlando," someone changes gender. These changes are really important to the story and make us think about who we are.

11. CONCLUSION Comparing "Orlando" by Virginia Woolf, "Shikhandi" from the Mahabharata, and the movie "Laxmii" (2020) lets us see how different cultures and times handle gender identity in stories. In "Orlando," Woolf shows us a character who doesn't fit into typical male or female roles over many centuries, making us rethink what gender means. Similarly, "Shikhandi" in the Mahabharata challenges gender roles in Indian mythology, showing how individuals shape their identities despite society's expectations. On the other hand, "Laxmii" tries to talk about transgender identity in today's India through a popular movie lens Each tale gives its own take on the journey to self-acceptance, encouraging us to think critically about society's norms and celebrate our differences.

12. Bheda, Isha. “A Comparative study on the queer theory in mythological book Shikhandi- And Other Tales, They Don’t Tell You.” no. February 2024, 2024, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378469331_A_Comparative_study_on_the_queer_theory_in_mythological_book_Shikhandi-_And_Other_Tales_They_Don't_Tell_You#full-text Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Orlando". Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orlando-by-Woolf. Accessed 3 April 2024. Ideogram , ideogram.ai/ . Accessed 03 Apr. 2024. Lakshmi, Aiswarya M. “Transgressive Desires in Indian Mythology: A Reading of Shikhandi and Other Tales They Don't Tell You.” Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, IJ Publication, April 2020, https://www.jetir.org/view?paper=JETIR2004086 . Accessed 3 April 2024. RESOURCES

13. RESOURCES Lawrence, Raghava, director. Laxmii . 9 November 2020. Fox Star Studios Cape of Good Films Shabinaa Entertainment Tusshar Entertainment House, 2020.3 April 2024. Pattanaik, Devdutt. Shikhandi and Other Tales They Don't Tell You . ZUBAAN, 2014.3 April 2024. Reid, Panthea. "Virginia Woolf". Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Virginia-Woolf. Accessed 3 April 2024. THANK YOU…..