Sita

Sita
At first glance in The Ramayana, Sita seems like the 'Ideal Indian Woman'. The reader sees her as victimized and oppressed, a woman who obeyed her husband's commands. She followed him, remained faithful to him, served her in-laws or yielded to parental authority, had to prove her innocence, and generally did her duty- whether she wanted to or not. Yet, as you look deeper, you see a more unconventional Sita. She was frank, had the ability to express herself freely, and asserted herself whenever she wanted to get her way. Sita fell for the allure of the golden deer. She spoke harsh words but took the words back. Sita loved her husband, was faithful to him, did not get taken in by the charm and material objects in Ravana's palace, faced an angry and suspicious husband, and tried to appease him. Sita was passive and at most times subversive, but not at the same time.
The first encounter readers have with Sita, as might be expected, is her marriage to Rama. As is typical with Indian society, her marriage is arranged by her father. The compliant Sita passively accepts her fate, leaves her father's home and acknowledges her new "lord."
Sita’s first clear act of will comes when she insists to go into the forest with Rama. “I’m dressed and ready as you see…I’m coming with you; my place is at your side wherever you may be…I could as well be dead. It will be living death for me without you. I am alive only when I am with you” (Narayan 53).   At first glance, it looks like Sita is just another wife whose existence is based off her husbands. Though this rings true somewhat, the underlying message is “Hey! I’m coming whether you like it not, so deal with it!” Sita’s will is being imposed on Rama.
Sita later demands that Rama capture or kill a golden deer, the demon Mareecha in disguise, for her. “Normally, Rama would have questioned Sita’s fancy, but today he blindly accepted her demand” (Narayan 82). She has once again pressed her will on Rama, and he obeyed. Women in...