Duty, Destiny, and Tragic Consciousness: A Comparative Study of Shakespearean Drama and the Hindu Epics

Souurabh R Chiplonnkaar

Abstract: Comparative literature increasingly encourages dialogue across cultures. This paper examines thematic and philosophical affinities between Shakespearean drama and the Hindu epics, particularly the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Although these traditions emerged in different historical and cultural contexts, both explore moral responsibility, political authority, fate, justice, duty, and human suffering. Through a comparative reading of selected Shakespearean tragedies and key episodes from the epics, the study argues that both traditions construct rich models of ethical conflict and tragic consciousness. Rather than proposing direct literary influence, it highlights independent yet comparable reflections on universal human concerns. By bringing these traditions into conversation, the paper demonstrates how literature transcends cultural boundaries while remaining rooted in its own historical context.

Keywords: Shakespeare; Mahabharata; Ramayana; Comparative Literature; Tragedy; Dharma; Fate; Ethics; Kingship

How to Cite?: Souurabh R Chiplonnkaar, "Duty, Destiny, and Tragic Consciousness: A Comparative Study of Shakespearean Drama and the Hindu Epics", Volume 15 Issue 9, September 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 330-330, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26904170918, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26904170918

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