The Punishment

Tagore, Rabindranath, "The Punishment."
        The Norton Anthology of World Literature
        12th Century, Volume F , Ed.s Sarah Lawall
        and Maynard Mack, Norton Company 2002. P, 1693-1699

This story revolves around two brothers, Chidam and Dukhiram, who live together with their quarrelling wives, Chandara and Radha. Chandara is the younger wife married to Chidam. Chandara can be described as more of a free spirit who does not really fit into the type of life they lived. Men worked and women spent their days cooking and cleaning and taking care of children. Chandara resented much of this. Beatings in the household were also a regular occurrence. After once such beating she fled her home and ran to an uncle's home three villages away, but eventually returned.

Towards the end of the story Dukhiram comes home and demands dinner from his wife.  In response to his demand Radha starts yelling at him about how there is no food, nor money to buy any. Dukhiram snapped and stood up with his knife and stabbed Rhada in the head, killing her. When Ramlochan approached the house after the quarrel, Chidam tells him that Chandara has killed Rhada, not Dukhiram. Chandara was very upset about this, even though Chidam told her that if she would stick to the story he told her she would most likely be able to walk away. I believe at this point Chandara's pride kicked in and she did not stick to the story, instead she continued to tell people she did it and in turn that lead to her receiving the death penalty. I think she did this to get back at her husband, make him live with this decision he made for the rest of his life. I think she also did it because she was unhappy with her life and wanted out anyway.