The concept of the Many Ramayanas is so interesting to me. When we first started the class and discussed how there are different versions I was very interested in how the story might be changed and manipulated depending on the circumstance. I believe that the Ramayana being an oral tradition contributes to variety of tellings because everyone adds their own slant and emphasis, intentional or not, when retelling a story.
I think the importance of Sīta varying from story to story is crucial in understanding what’s happening because it can completely change the interpretation (44). If Sīta is the hero in the story then you will automatically have a different perception of the role of women than if she was just the submissive wife of Rama. The ability to tell and retell the Ramayana in different ways can also allow for an orator to position Sīta to align with his/her view of women.