Different people from distant cultures placed centuries apart need not speak the same languages or write in the same style but if at heart they are both human, then it is likely that when dealing with certain issues they may share a common perspective. On witnessing the subjugation of women in their societies both Euripides and Premchand wanted to remove the blindfold from the eyes of the ignorant masses.

As Euripides’ ideas and views were more modern and revolutionary than those of his contemporaries, scepticism, compassion and anger often permeated his works. Moses Hadas affirms this by saying, “the main aim of Euripides new approach is to criticize the antiquated conventions of a constricting social order which hamper and oppress contemporary life”. Medea depicts this in terms of the victimization of the female protagonist by society and her husband. Much like Euripides, Munshi Premchand was a prolific writer with a firm humanistic commitment. He was witness to the odd Indian customs that most orthodox lower and middle class Indian families had to face. In Nirmala Premchand focuses on the devastating effects of the prejudiced dowry system on an innocent and caring g

In Nirmala we see Pandit Moteram on the look out for willing men who are not asking for much dowry (like buying goods at best buy.com). Although there was a well-bred man from a respectable family who was asking for a nominal dowry in the list he brought back, Kalyani chose the one who was not asking for any dowry at all. She literally bargains with her own daughter’s life to get out of the fix she is in but its consequences, as we see later on, were disastrous. The qualities of Nirmala’s fiancé or the injustice that she may have to put up with once she gets married means nothing to Kalyani as getting rid of Nirmala is her primary concern any ways.

Premchand and Euripides felt this injustice that was inadvertently associated with most women. Though not wanting to start a revolution, they wanted to do whatever was in their power to help their societies such as laying down the bare facts in front of them so that the necessary action could be taken. Through this analysis it is evident that though their ways of expressing themselves varied, they expressed a common perspective all the same.

Although both Euripides and Premchand had the option to choose what aspects of the character of their protagonists they wanted to bring out, Premchand had the capacity to show Nirmala from various angles. Her reactions to various situations and her responses to the people, whom she associates with, reveal her character in a holistic manner. Premchand takes us deep into Nirmala’s psyche and manifests the causes for her suffering and the effects of the trauma and doubt.

Dowry, as brought out in both texts, is clearly a male-biased custom that subordinates women. Its characteristics were elucidated by Bhuwan when he said, “Money will conceal all her defects. Even if she curses me day and night, I won’t complain. After all who minds being kicked by the cow one is milking?”. In this context the present concept of marriage takes a u-turn. It is no more the ever-lasting love knot which unites two souls who are madly in love with each other, it is more like life long corporal punishment for the wife and an investment for the husband. Nirmala says, “she awaited her (Krishna’s) wedding with the same sense of anticipation that a prisoner awaits an execution”

“First we have to buy our husband, at vast expense, and to make the bargain the more painful- what we buy is someone to lord it Over our body” , here Medea clearly describe

Some topics in this essay:
Nirmala Krishna, Unlike Medea, Pandit Moteram, Euripides Premchand, Aristotelian Tragedy, Nirmala Medea, According Aristotle, Premchand Euripides, Hilary Clinton, , tragic heroine, respectable family, nirmala medea, entire life, sense urgency, common perspective, premchand euripides, euripides premchand, nirmala prose, medea drama,