You have spoken of the foreknowledge of outcomes supplied to the reader in these volumes. What does knowing how things will turn out do to the reader's experience of the books? How is it not boring?
Jo's answer is great. I would just add that some stories work best on you if the ending surprises you, and others get more powerful every time you read them precisely because you know how they're going to turn out. That's got to be the effect of Yudhishthira's soliloquy before launching the war he dreads, "I don’t want victory. Nor do I want the kingdom or happiness. ... What will we do with the kingdom or with pleasures or with life itself? ... How can we be happy after killing our relatives?"
Answering as someone who was raised Hindu/knows a lot of the stories that are part of the Mahabharata (which I read as a teenager):
(1) there are novels that use the technique, eg., Carson McCullers' Reflections in a Golden Eye tells you that main characters will be dead by the end. The mystery/non-boring part is finding out how. The "how" becomes the intrigue.
(2) Hinduism and the Mahabharata are highly philosophical, stories are one way the philosophy is shared and learned. The logic behind the philosophy is important. For example, you might know the key points of Nietzsche's philosophy, but still find a lot of value in reading his books.
I don't know what RBS's perspective is, but I thought you might find value in why a person in the religion would read it even though they knew the main points/plot.
Thanks! I appreciate having the perspective of someone who grew up with the stories! So it sounds like it isn’t to be read as a novel might be, but more as a religious, cultural, and philosophical work that serves to unite the culture and is meant to be read in parts many times over, like the story of Christ.
Exactly that. Though I’m Western-born and raised, and based on that, I’d argue that Hinduism is much more philosophical than Christianity. It’s closer to Judaism, but still more philosophical and loosely-knit than the Abrahamic religions.
In Hinduism, there’s a concept of satsangh, which is sort of - being in the company of others and speaking of knowledge/having philosophical conversation through which you and the others learn. A deeper understanding of the religious texts lends itself to that.
Thanks. I read it back in the 1970s when I worked in a bookstore and was in charge of the sci-fi section. I only remember liking the cover but being disappointed in the story. Looking forward as always to correcting my opinion.
You have spoken of the foreknowledge of outcomes supplied to the reader in these volumes. What does knowing how things will turn out do to the reader's experience of the books? How is it not boring?
Jo's answer is great. I would just add that some stories work best on you if the ending surprises you, and others get more powerful every time you read them precisely because you know how they're going to turn out. That's got to be the effect of Yudhishthira's soliloquy before launching the war he dreads, "I don’t want victory. Nor do I want the kingdom or happiness. ... What will we do with the kingdom or with pleasures or with life itself? ... How can we be happy after killing our relatives?"
Once more, with feeling...:) <3
Answering as someone who was raised Hindu/knows a lot of the stories that are part of the Mahabharata (which I read as a teenager):
(1) there are novels that use the technique, eg., Carson McCullers' Reflections in a Golden Eye tells you that main characters will be dead by the end. The mystery/non-boring part is finding out how. The "how" becomes the intrigue.
(2) Hinduism and the Mahabharata are highly philosophical, stories are one way the philosophy is shared and learned. The logic behind the philosophy is important. For example, you might know the key points of Nietzsche's philosophy, but still find a lot of value in reading his books.
I don't know what RBS's perspective is, but I thought you might find value in why a person in the religion would read it even though they knew the main points/plot.
Thanks! I appreciate having the perspective of someone who grew up with the stories! So it sounds like it isn’t to be read as a novel might be, but more as a religious, cultural, and philosophical work that serves to unite the culture and is meant to be read in parts many times over, like the story of Christ.
Exactly that. Though I’m Western-born and raised, and based on that, I’d argue that Hinduism is much more philosophical than Christianity. It’s closer to Judaism, but still more philosophical and loosely-knit than the Abrahamic religions.
In Hinduism, there’s a concept of satsangh, which is sort of - being in the company of others and speaking of knowledge/having philosophical conversation through which you and the others learn. A deeper understanding of the religious texts lends itself to that.
Thanks. I read it back in the 1970s when I worked in a bookstore and was in charge of the sci-fi section. I only remember liking the cover but being disappointed in the story. Looking forward as always to correcting my opinion.
Just wanted to say that War With the Newts is a lot of fun. Hope you enjoy it!