Reading Diary A

Hunaman is a huge figure in this version of the story. In the previous version he played a major role also but in this version there he is even bigger.

The Search for Sita in this story is more in depth than the last story which I think is not needed. In this version Buck expands on the entire search, but I like the previous version better because the story is better served if Buck had focused only on Hunaman, instead of the rest of the search.

In both versions the monkeys spend time with the lady before Hunaman travels across the lake. I am not sure what this is supposed to represent, and not sure why this is here. I think both versions could have left this part out.

In this version Hunaman Jumps across the body of water, in the previous version he grew and stepped across the version, doesn't make that much of a difference but it is another way that Buck distinguishes his version. Seems to be room for a lot of interpretation in this story.

Sita in captivity is much the same as the last version, but one difference is that Sita only has one year to live.

The description of the city as Hunaman travels through it searching for Sita really brings the city alive.

Buck does a good job of giving us the inner thoughts of the characters which adds elements to this version that were glossed over in the first version and example of this is when Hunaman finds Sita. He whispers to her to get her attention. The story gives his inner thoughts which explains why he is whispering to her. In this version of the story characters actions seem thought out, and there is an awareness of the consequences of their actions, in the previous version it seemed like the characters just did things and then the consequences happened.

Another example of this is when Hunaman is captured and has his tail set on fire. He travels through the city and sets fire to it. In the previous version he just set fire to it and went across the water, but in this version he looks at the damage he had done and begins to realize that he may have hurt Sita and before he leaves goes to check on her, still if he has the power to grow and she trusts him and he is able to escape then why doesn't he just grab her on his way out and take her back to Rama. It would avoid the entire war. I doubt that Ravana would follow because by this point it is mainly pride that keeps him from returning her.