In this essay I am going to compare the shootout scene of the movie "The Untouchables" and the clip of the Odessa Steps sequence from Potemkin.…
The Laws of Manu presents detailed outline of how people live in ancient Indian society. According to the excerpt, ancient Indian people believe that everyone belongs to a certain class system bound by birth. In order to move in rank in the caste system, one must live a good life and hope to be reborn into a higher rank. There are four different caste systems total. Each caste system had a leader who enforced the duties of that certain caste. The four castes are “brahmin, the kshatriya, the vaisya, and the sudra” (Laws of Manu I.31). Ancient Indian society believes in the caste system because they believe that the laws are made by the gods. I think the laws are too strict for our present society to readopt the caste system. For example, , “By adultery committed by persons of different castes, by marriages with women who ought not to be married, and by the neglect of the duties and occupations prescribed to each, are produced sons who owe their origin to a confusion of the castes” (Laws of Manu X.24). Those who do commit adultery can be look down upon because they didn’t follow the laws. To me, I think everyone should be able to choose who they want to marry. It’s interesting how people in ancient India would accept the idea of pre-arranged marriage and the idea of born into a class system. This shows how believing in a higher being can influence the way people live.…
For example, the British people served as magistrates, sanitations officials, generals, judges, and other high government positions, because of the caste system. Also, Brahmins, and merchants, could easily exploit deals for them, that would make Britain rich and in return, the British Raj may lift the helper’s place in society. There was no reason to abolish the caste system, because it helped the British people gain a lot of money, it gave them power, and it make their supporters happy, because their supporters also wanted to continue the caste system. However, this continuation of the caste system is inherently evil, and was not a wise decision in the long run. This continuity of the caste system is horrific because it oppresses the Dalits and basically treats them as sub-humans. The Dalit’s mere presence and eye contact to anyone is seen as “impure”. These Dalits are so oppressed that they must tie a broom to their hips so their “impure” footsteps are cleared away. They have spittle’s hung around their necks, because a Dalits spit, according to Hindu culture, can “impurify” the whole place. The mere shadow of a Dalit can be “impure” and bad, and thus the Dalits are constantly oppressed, no one cares about…
In the Laws of Manu they get in more depth of every aspect of people’s lives. In chapter two, number 57, it states, “excessive eating is prejudicial to health, to fame, and to bliss in heaven; it prevents the acquisition of spiritual merit, and is odious among men; one ought, for the reasons, to avoid carefully.” That’s telling people how much they should eat. The laws of Manu are basically telling people how to live their lives in every aspect and if you don’t you won’t have eternal life. The laws also have different rules based on what caste the people are categorized into; the higher the caste, the more privileges. In Chapter five, number 32 it states, “A Brahmana, having got rid of his body by one of those modes…
The Indian caste system is harsh and oppressive, yet it has not always been that way, and policies have been implemented to end this intolerance. The caste system within India is a set of classes that is used to place people into occupational groups. It is a system followed by Hindus. The story of how it began states that the original five varnas were made from a primordial being, and each varna contains many castes and sub-castes, each of which has a specific job. The cast system of India had three stages; the early caste system, changes in the caste system, and today’s caste system. The solution to this intolerance will not be simple, but will hopefully help to one day allow India to escape the binding…
these social laws maintain the Caste System by preventing people from marrying or working outside of their caste. everyone must marry within their Caste and sub-caste, or be outcast from their family. When it comes to occupation, each Caste is related to certain jobs, and even more specifically to family-based Jatis. It is expected that everyone performs their duties, in order to maintain social and economic fluidity…
Belief systems often impact the politics and society of the nations in which they are practiced. Although there should be a separation between religion and state, some societies are affected by the beliefs of it’s people. In Hinduism and Confucianism it’s followers are influenced by the belief of civil service exams, the five relationships, the caste system, and reincarnation; these principles have affected their governments and social structures.…
The Caste System determines the wealth, power and privilege of all human beings. But aside from the belief in tradition and order the Caste System brings about inequality and injustice towards many of society. Members of the higher castes enjoy all kinds of privileges, whereas the lower caste of society are deprived of all privileges, more than 160 million people in India alone are considered "Untouchable.” Oppression plays a huge role during the early ages of the Caste System. The Untouchables were made to fear all those that dominated above them, they were treated inhumanely, Untouchables live in continual fear of being publicly humiliated, paraded naked, beaten, and raped by upper-caste Hindus in reassurance to keep them in place. They were deprived all choice of social, religious, economic, cultural and political rights and privileges. This is considered inequality as the Untouchables have done nothing to deserve such punishment. Walking through an upper-caste neighbourhood is a dangerous wrongdoing. During the beginning of the 1900’s was the time in which justice…
From a perspective of someone who lived in India for three years, the caste system in…
Monsoon wedding”(2007), an award winning movie, directed by mira nair. Features widely known Indian actors, such as Vasundhara Das, Naseeruddin Shah and Vijay Raaz.…
“One of the most widely known of the Dharmashastras, the Manu Smirti, or Laws of Manu, depicts women as being entirely subservient to men: a girl is governed by her father, a married woman by her husband, a widow by her sons” (patheos.com). Another issue is that the caste system, which is widely used, is a sign oppression. It normally only works in a perfect world that is structurally organized by only those individuals. Hinduism is a polytheistic and due to the sacrifices, they make, it is believed any action that harms another being, whether it be a hierarchical person or an insect, it is said to affect every other being. Some customs however require that people sacrifice themselves. While restrictions from eating meat were introduced early on the rules for eating meat have changed. The four Castes now specify which type of meat is allowed for human consumption and under what scenario. Because of the diverse amount of people who follow the tradition, conflict can easily arise from different viewpoints. This can lead to differences of viewpoints and even…
Centuries before the development of the hierarchical caste system, India’s social structures were less rigidly defined. Men and women obtained equality in their social status’ and respect. While men were given broad opportunities in occupations and employment, women were provided with the freedoms of political, religious and public involvement. However, as times changed and new social structures developed, India experienced a shift away from equality towards a system that was fundamentally based upon patriarchy,…
The origins of the complex hierarchy of the Hindu caste system can be tracked back to the Vedic ages. The principle of the caste system is based upon that a person’s status in society can be placed in a block of a pyramid, the higher you rise up the pyramid the closer you get to reaching Moksha.1 Moksha is the ultimate spiritual goal for a Hindu, where the soul is liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth, and the soul mergers with the Supreme Reality.2 Caste placement is hereditary; you cannot switch out of the caste you are born into. Women were not considered part of the caste system; they led the lifestyle of the caste affiliated to their father or husband.1…
The laws of Manu were mythically written by "Manu" (the father of man) 30 million years ago. It is currently believed that around 200 BC, the Brahmin compiled them into a single text, in response to the onset of Buddhism. They hold in their teachings, an explanation of the creation of existence, complete nature and structure of all things in it as well as how they interact, and the "laws" (responsibilities) and punishments of all of those things.…
Not much has changed with India involving the caste system since it was first introduced. The four major groups were known as the varnas but now they are called castes. Four major castes emerged from the mouth, arms, legs, and feet of Perusha (the first human being). There are four basic castes with hundreds of subdivisions. All of this which was believed in India when the caste system was first started is still believed and followed today. In modern day India the untouchables are still around and they are at the bottom of the caste system. It’s quite unfortunate for these people given that they were born into being an untouchable and can’t do anything about…