The title “Mrichchhakatikam”

The title “Mrichchhakatikam”

v Introduction:-

            As regards the title of the play, “Mrichchhakatikam’ (The clay toy-cart), the poet has shown great dramatic skill in selecting it. The general convention about naming a play is that sit should names after the hero and the heroine or a prominent character as in. Sudraka defies this convention. Though the incident of the ………..He appeals  to be insignificant at  first sight it certainly the central one in every sense of the term. It occurs in the middle of the play, just in the beginning of Act- VI.

v Incident of Clay-Cart

            The first incident is connected with the little clay Cart. It is this incident which has given the tile toe play. Charudatta’s  little son, Rahosena sees the neighbor’s child playing with a golden cart and cries demanding a similar toy. Radhanika’s verbal promise does not satisfy him. Vasantsena who in Charudatta’s house at the moment is moved b the sight. The Child’s innocent  refusal to recognize her as his mother affects her heart deeply. Here maternal instincts are roused. She fills the toy clay cart with her ornaments and the little child is satisfied.

v Importance of incident:-

            Thus this small incident has a great symbolic value for the story of the drama.

(1) It brings into light Charudatta’s poverty.

(2) Vasantsena’s act of filling the cart with her ornaments is symbolical of a new prosperity.

(3) It bears a great psychological value.

(4) It significances Vasantsena’s secret ambitious not merely to be a respectable bride but a loveable mother, too. T

            his incident shows the she feel deep motherly instinct.

v Vasantsena as mother:-

            Radanika accepts Vasantsena as her mistress. She introduces her to Rahasena as ‘the mother’, but the reaction of the child is Vasantsena’s crucial test. It brings tears to her eyes. But by filling the cart with her ornaments, she has won the unconquerable heart of the child. Not only her, love but her ambition to be the mother of Charudatta’ child is also fulfilled what every may be said, her position in Charudatta’s house is now assured Thus this incident the most glorious moment in her life.

v Tragic Symbol for Charudatta

            However, this incident affects Charudatta in a very strange way. To Vasantsena, the ornaments were an approach to Charudatta, a way to reach near his heart. But the same ornaments prove to be fateful to Charudatta. They have brought him Vasantsena, but they also bring him the unfortunate charges of their and a lot of worry, too. They come once against in his house  through this incident of the Clay-cart. They bring temporary happiness to his little son, but when Maitreya drops them down in the court during the trial, they completely break the back of Charudatta’s defense. That way, they are a tragic symbol for him.

v Poetic and suggestive title:-

            Thus the love of Vasantsena and Charudatta, their union, the hopes and fear of the two lovers and the entire happiness and tragedy of their life are symbolized by the whole incident of the Clays-Cart. Sudraka has done well departing from the traditional method of the hero’s and heroine’s name for the title of this drama. A more poetic title imaginatively symbolizing the entire dramatic story could not have bee easily.