|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 19 May 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Artscope | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Macbeth or Kasyapa : Whose saga? by Gwen Herat
To feel the impact of this article, the reader must be familiar with William Shakespeare's Macbeth and the 37th chapter of the Mahawansa by the late Ven. H. Siri Sumangala. I spent many hours and days and a workload of research to come up with a testimony that is probable. It is precise and accurate. Datusena era began 459 - 477 AD and William Shakespeare's 1564 - 1616. From the 5th century to 17th century is a long span and though communication skills were hard to come by, apparently the saga of Kasyapa had reached the Bard of Avon. Though it cannot be determined how, the possibility had surfaced much to my delight. Apart from Macbeth and the Mahawansa, I was also inspired by the works of Dr. Senaka Bandaranayake in The Cultural Triangle published by the UNESCO. Now, hold your breath; because what I am going to reveal is possible if not probable. This evaluation had haunted me for a length of time and for many an instance and literally I imagined Shakespeare to have committed copyright piracy or even still better that Kasyapa was the making of Macbeth. It is all there recorded in the Mahawansa and for those who have done English literature from the periods of Renaissance, Classicism, and Romanticism and even the dawn of Sentimentalism, will find the excitement of realising the importance of a situation hitherto not mentioned in the literary circles. There lived a great Thane or Lord called Macbeth who was a near kinsman to Duncan the Meek, the king of Scotland. Macbeth was held in high esteem by king Duncan because of his valour in defeating many a foe, especially a rebel army assisted by the troops from Norway. King Duncan: Dismay'd not this our Captain, Macbeth and Banquo? Sergeant- Yes; As sparrows and eagles, or the hare the lion If I say sooth. I must report they were. As canons overcharg'd with double cracks; So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe. Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds. Or memorize another Golgotha, I cannot tell - But I am faint; my gashes cry for help. Duncan: So well thy words become thee as thy wounds. They smack of honour both - Go get him sergeant. Act. 1, scene 11. Now, let us look at King Datusena who ruled the ancient capital of Anuradhapura from 459-477 AD. He too like Duncan, was a meek and gentle king. Kasyapa was his General and kinsman and was in favour of Datusena for his valour like Macbeth. Mahawansa - (Page 11). Discovery King Duncan had two sons. Malcolm the eldest sought for refuge in the English Court while the younger Donalbain made his escape to Ireland. This happened in the morning after the discovery of Duncan's murder. Though Macbeth and his Lady made a great show of grief at the death of king Duncan and the proof against the blood smeared grooms, the suspicion fell upon them. With the king's sons who should have succeeded the throne of Scotland escaping, Macbeth crowned himself as king and thus the prediction of the weird sisters was literally accomplished. Macduff: They were suborn'd. Malcolm and Donalbain. The king's two sons. Are stol'n away and fled, which puts upon them suspicion of the deed. - Act. 2 scene IV. Banquo: Thou haste it now - King, Cawder, Glamis all. As the weird women promis'd and I fear though played most foul for't Yet it was said. It should not stand in thy posterity but thay myself should be the root and father. Of many kings. If there come truth of them. As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine - Act. 3 scene I. King Datusena and two sons, Prince Moggallana and his half-brother, Prince Kasyapa by a Royal consort. The king also had a beautiful daughter who married Migara whom the king detested because of his cruelty to the princess. Kasyapa and Migara plotted against the king to snatch the throne from rightful heir, Moggallana. The king who stood his ground for justice and truth, was later murdered by Kasyapa. It was a cruel death where the king was plastered with mud inside a hut after he refused to hand over the treasures Kasyapa demanded to which the king said 'My treasure lies in Tissawewa. Realising that his life was in danger, Prince Moggallana escaped to India. Mahawansa Page. 11 - Lines 80-109. After the escape of Malcolm and Donalbain, Macbeth was plagued with fear and reassurance. So he sought the advice of the three witches whom he found in a cave. The witches demanded of Macbeth whether his doubts would be solved by them or by their masters, the spirits. He opted for their masters and they called him by his name and bid him beware of the Thane of Fife. Macbeth thanked them for he had entertained a jealousy for Macduff, the Thane of Fife. The second spirit arose in the likeness of a bloody child and bid Macbeth not to have any fear for none of woman born should have power to hurt him and advised him to be bloody, bold and resolute. Apparition: Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth; Macbeth - Had I three ears, I'd hear thee. App. - Be bloody, bold and resolute and laugh to scorn The power of man for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. Macbeth.- Then live, Macduff; what need I fear thee but yet I'll make assurance double sure and take a bond of fate. Thou shall not live. That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies and sleep in spite of thunder. - Act. 4 scene I. Sanctuary "Kasyapa feared the return of Moggallana after failing to slay him. He had to find sanctuary to live without fear. So, he collected much of the treasures and fortified himself in the rock fortress of Sigiriya while Macbeth sought refuge at Inverness, Macbeth's castle... Kasyapa unlike Macbeth, reigned well, building dagabas, temples, water tanks and serving his people. Macbeth had ridden himself of Banquo but he had Macduff whom he suspected. Kasyapa had the ever faithful Migara. (Mahawansa page 12. Lines 1-17)
After conferring with the spirits in the cave, the first thing Macbeth heard was that Macduff had fled to England to join the army which was forming against him under Malcolm, the elder son of King Duncan. Driven with rage, Macbeth set upon the castle of Macduff and put his wife and children whom the Thane had left behind, to death. His wife died and he grew careless with life and wished for death but with the near approach of Malcolm's army, roused his ancient courage. He remembered the hollow promises of the witches. Some had come to pass but he was convinced he had no threat from Macduff nor that the Nurnam woods come to Dunsione. Apparition - Be lion-mettled, proud and take no care. Who chafes, who frets or where conspires are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him. (Act 4. Scene 1). As years fled and though Kasyapa devoted himself to his subjects, the execution of his father lay heavily upon his brow. It had the same effect on Migara who looked upon Kasyapa with contempt of his deed of patricide. Migara left Kasyapa the way all generals abandoned Macbeth. Like Macbeth, Kasyaya waited for the return of the rightful heir to the throne and as much Macbeth was confident that he cannot be destroyed, so was Kasyapa because of his high-rising rock fortress. However, one morning as Kasyapa looked from his stone fortress, he saw the woods of Sigiriya moving in slow motion. (Mahawansa - Page 12. (Lines 1-6). And one morning when a messenger-guard stood over his watch on the hill that looked towards Birnam, the wood began to move. He informed Macbeth who flew into a rage. Messenger - As I did stand my watch upon the hill, I looked towards Birnam and anon me thought. The wood began to move. (Act 5. Scene V.) And came morning when Kasyapa realised the moving Sigiriya woods to be Moggallana. As the two armies confronted each other, the elephant upon whom Kasyapa was leading his soldiers stopped and turned around to evade a pool of muddy water. (He was a royal elephant). Realising this sign to be a retreat, Kasyapa's soldiers fled, leaving him behind. Kasyapa realised the hopeless situation. He never wanted to die before Moggallana. So, he marched forward, removed his sword and with one sharp slash, severed his head and threw it in the air. He put back the sword in his headless sheath that was bound to the waist, fell down and died before Moggallana approached him. His beloved elephant gave one royal trumpet and vanished. (Mahawansa - Page 13. (Lines 18-28). Prophecy The strange appearance that gave the guard the impression of a wood moving, was solved because the besieging army through the woods of Birnam, carried a branch or a bough as instructed by Malcolm to conceal the true number of soldiers who made up his army. This gave the frightened guard the vision of Birnam Wood moving towards him. Thus Macbeth knew the prophecy was coming true. Macbeth feebly supported by a few friends who in reality hated him and inclined to the army of Malcolm, yet fought the rage and valour while cutting into pieces all who opposed him. Seeing Macduff and remembering the last prophecy, he rebuked him when he fought face to face who weighed with vengeance (Macbeth had killed his wife and children) gave him many foul reproaches. However, Macbeth whose soul was charged with blood of his family, paused to decline the combat but driven in fury at the sight of Macbeth, Macduff urged him to fight calling him tyrant, murderer, hell-bound and villain. 'Thou loses thy labour, Macduff' he said. He was sure that Macduff could not kill him because no one born of woman could harm him. And Macduff boldly said he was not born of woman but was untimely taken from his mother. Macbeth whose courage returned struggled with Macduff who eventually cut off his head and presented it to the rightful and noble heir, Prince Malcolm who ascended the throne of Duncan the Meek. Macduff - Turn hell-bound turn. Macbeth - Of all men else I have avoided thee. But get thee back; my souls is too much charged with thine already. Macduff - I have no words. My voice is my sword; thou bloodier villain; Than terms can give thee out. (they fight) Macbeth - Thou loosest labour as easy mayest though the internchant air. With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed. Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmed life, which must not yield. Macduff - Despair thy charm; And let thy angel whom thou still hast serv'd. Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb untimely ripp'd... (Act. 5. Scene VIII) Prince Moggallana collected the head and torso of Kasyapa and gave him a royal burial that he deserved because he died as a noble Royal and returned to Anuradhapura and ascended the throne of Datusena the Meek. (Mahawansa - Page 13. Line 28) In the beginning of the fifth century, Sigiriya came tragically into history during the reign of Datusena whose kingdom was the ancient capital of Sri Lanka. After the trauma of Kasyapa era, Moggallana fortified the capital city as well as Sigiriya which centuries later, archaeologists pleasantly discovered fantastic urban planning including hydraulic technology that stun the world. Epilogue They were the brainchild of Kasyapa who erected magnificent water gardens with natural fountains that still bubble and remain a mystery to all builders of fountains and water-methods. The beautiful Sigiriya garden layout matches any of the best in the world and the sad story linked to the Sigiriya woods, still bring back memories of a saga that will run through more millenniums. This beginning on our rich heritage owes a lot to the tyrannical Kasyapa without whom Sigiriya rock fortress would never have been. It is considered a wonder among many others. Therefore, our country though small in size perhaps is the cradle of Asia's greatest civilisation dating back to the third century BC. Kasyapa too was involved in many ways to the lasting contribution to Buddhism no matter what his deed was. Epilogue - II William Shakespeare was born on 23 April 1564 and died on 23 April, 1616 and was buried on 25 April at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford with stands on the banks of the Avon. He was fifty years old and had completed all his plays and they were collected into the first folio and published by his actor friends in 1623, seven years after the death of the Bard. He wrote Macbeth in 1606, ten years before he died. To date, Shakespeare remains the best loved and authority on English literature. His works have been translated into many languages around the world including Sri Lanka. His works are found in the syllabus of all students who study English. His dramas are the most performed of all stage plays while many films and ballets also feature his work. **** Back **** |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
