Week 10 Storytelling: Sita inspires Mulan

Long ago in ancient China, there was a small family of five. A girl named Mulan, her parents, her grandmother, and a dog named Little Brother. China was going through a war with the Huns. The Huns were the most awful human beings to ever live. They were killing anything and everything that crossed their path. Mulan's father had just gotten the letter from the Emperor that he had to go fight in the war against the Huns. Sadly no one in his family could take his place, because they were all female. There were strict rules that only men were permitted to fight in the war, even if they were elderly or sick. Mulan was heartbroken that her father had been called to war. It was just last week he fell and hurt his leg because he tried walking around without his cane. Mulan knew that her father was not fit to fight in a war. She went to bed that night as sad as could be, but had the most interesting dream of a woman named Sita...

(Mulan in bed dreaming)

""Father, why can't I fight the rakshasas that are tearing up people’s homes? They deserve to be punished!" said Sita.

 "Because you are too fragile, my princess. The rakshasas would tear you apart," Sita's father replied.

"Maybe a normal girl, but I am not a normal girl!" Sita exclaimed.

"Sita! We are not having this conversation. You will not fight any rakshasa," Sita's father sternly stated.

Disregarding what her father said, she decided to go out on her own and fight the rakshasas. Sita changed out of the formal attire she wore around the castle and into an outfit more fit for the woods. That night while her family was fast asleep she snuck out of the castle to fight the rakshasas. She stayed hidden because she'd rather not be surprised by these tricksters. That’s when she heard the screams!

She ran toward the sounds of screaming people. When she arrived, there were two rakshasas tearing apart a farmer’s livestock! Even though there were people around screaming and throwing things at them, the rakshasas weren’t fazed. Sita decided to attack them in a way others weren’t thinking. She gracefully walked up towards them and whistled. “Man, you boys sure are strong and handsome,” she flirted. The rakshasas immediately put their guard down and let the beautiful Sita get close to them. Little did they know she had her father’s bow hidden behind her. When Sita got close enough to them, she pulled the bow as far back as possible and fired the arrow. The arrow flew straight through both rakshasas’ heads! The people were so shocked they were silent. Sita looked confused, but then they started cheering for her! The people had a party for her the next day to thank her for her bravery in making their land peaceful again. To her father’s surprise she was the kingdom hero for killing those terrible rakshasas. “You did good, Sita. I am proud of you,” her father told her.”

Mulan woke up as soon as her dream ended. It was still dark outside. She knew she had to act quickly before her parents woke up. After being inspired by the woman in her dream, she knew she had to be brave and take her father's place in the war. She moved as fast and quietly as she could while dressing herself in all her father’s armor. She hoped and prayed fiercely that no one would recognize she was a woman. A short time before dawn she set out on her journey hoping to make her father as proud as Sita made hers.

(Mulan in battle)

Bibliography: Sita Daughter of the Earth by Saraswati Nagpal, Reserve at the Bizzell and Mulan


Author's note:

While reading the graphic novel of Sita's life, there was a scene where she had a strong willingness to go fight rakshasas. These two rakshasas were terrorizing her people’s land, and she wanted to put an end to it. However, her father told her that she was “fragile” and the rakshasas would tear her apart. Even though Sita listened to her father, the scene still reminded me a lot of the story of Mulan.

The strong amount of courage and selflessness in the characters Sita and Mulan made me want to connect them somehow. I liked the idea of having one of them dream of the other to gain inspiration for their own journey. I especially liked that Sita didn’t listen to her father in my story. In a time when most women were submissive to men the only way the men would see them differently was if a woman completely broke the boundaries. For example, Sita was fighting and defeating rakshasas and in turn gaining respect from her father.

I think the first photo sets a good feel for Mulan dreaming. I love the second photo of Mulan because it shows that women can equally fight alongside men. Also, I think it accurately shows that intensity she and Sita share.

I hope my story is fun to read. I also hope it encourages everyone to fight for what they believe in, regardless of their gender. Also, I hope to be a source of inspiration to people in this class for their future stories!