Rabindranath Tagore’s “Punishment” deals with the power of men over women in the Indian society and struggles of women to run away from this intimidating violence. This is effectively reflected through the two brothers, Chidam and Dukhiram, and their wives, Chandara and Radha, respectively. Raymond Carver’s “So Much Water So Close to Home” also discusses the treatment of women in society and the cruelty they are subjected to in their own communities. The story is superbly told from the perspective of a female character, Claire, who is married to Stuart, one of the men who discover a dead woman’s body on a fishing expedition. The most significant similarities between the stories include the theme of violence against women, the use of a similar image of water to explain potential problems, brutality, and the aspect of persistent conflict. The two stories differ in their approach to marriage and understanding between spouses. Accordingly, they differ in the reflection of women’s attempts to free themselves from the bondage of violence in their homes and communities. This essay compares and contrasts Tagore’s “Punishment” and Carver’s “So Much Water So Close to Home” themes of violence against women and the imagery of water.
Comparing
One of the most significant similarities between “Punishment” and “So Much Water So Close to Home” is the theme of violence against women. Tagore offers a clear view of violence women in the Indian society through the explication of the relationship between the two brothers, Chidam and Dukhiram, and their wives. The overall incident of violence against women begins immediately when Chidam and Dukhiram come home from their daily activities in the fields. Dukhiram demands food from his wife, Radha, to show his dominance over her. However, his wi