Wrote this paper at the two-day International Conference on Revisiting History, Ethnicity, and Myth in Literature, organized by Amity University, Rajasthan, on October 19-20, 2023. The paper delves into the topic of Mythical Patterns in Contemporary Events: A Study of Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island.
Mythical Patterns in Contemporary Events: A Study of Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island
Abstract:
Myth, a traditional narrative explaining the origins of the world and society, often involving gods and supernatural elements, was not accepted by Plato in his Republic due to its lack of trusted truth and perceived irrationality. However, the Indian mind has a habit of finding connections between myth and reality, consciously identifying recurring mythic patterns in contemporary events. Regarding the use of myth in the novels, Mukherjee comments- the myth was used consciously to enhance the effect of a contemporary situation. The amalgamation of myth and reality not only adds depth and meaning to the stories but also provides a new contribution to the overall development of their themes and structures. Ultimately, the conscious use of myth in contemporary literature enriches the reading experience by bridging ancient wisdom with modern experiences. The novel Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh masterfully delves into the underexplored territory of utilizing mythology to address contemporary issues and concerns. The myths in this unknown function as symbolic threads that intricately connect the past and the present, shedding light on the profound relationship between humans and nature. Ghosh artfully intertwines historical events, diverse ethnicities, and mythical elements, shedding light on contemporary issues, and environmental challenges. By expertly blending myth and reality, Ghosh prompts readers to question the conventional divisions between truth and imagination, past and present, and the boundaries that separate humanity from the natural world.
Keywords: Myth, Reality, Amitav Ghosh, Gun Island, Contemporariness
Introduction:
Mythical patterns in literature hold a profound and timeless allure, weaving themselves into the fabric of storytelling since the dawn of human civilization. These patterns are distinguished by their archetypal characters, epic quests, and symbolic motifs that transcend cultural boundaries, providing a window into the universal facets of the human experience. In doing so, they furnish a framework for examining complex themes and emotions that resonate with readers across time and place. Myth, an integral element of literary composition, serves as both a reservoir of symbolism and a canvas for artistic expression. Its roots delve deep into classical mythology, offering modern writers a shorthand to explore concepts, interpret events, and dissect characters and themes in innovative ways. Leveraging mythological references within literature adds depth, layers of meaning, and opportunities for contemplation.
Among the literary luminaries who understood and harnessed the potency of myth within their works, T.S. Eliot stands as a prime example. Eliot's masterful use of myth extends beyond mere allusion and metaphorical flourish; it serves as a conduit for connecting his ideas and tropes with universal themes, thereby establishing an external order to the ideas woven throughout his poems (Eliot, 2014).
William Righter in his book Myth and Literature quotes Warren and Wellek, “Myth is narrative, irrational … story-telling of origins and destinies, the explanations… of why the world is and why we do what we do” (Righter, 1975). Myth, at its core, embodies narrative storytelling that often defies rationality, offering explanations for the origins and destinies of the world and human behavior. Scholar William Bascom succinctly defines myths as true narratives from the remote past upheld through faith and often regarded as sacred. This research paper embarks on a journey of demystification, seeking to unravel the enigmas and illusions associated with myths and mythology. Scholars such as Roland Barthes and Claude Levi-Strauss underscore the significance of comprehending the underlying structures and relationships within myths, transcending surface-level content and narrow allegorical interpretations. Mythology emerges as a form of storytelling that imparts philosophical meaning to ordinary life, rendering our experiences intelligible.
In this essay Archetypal Criticism: Theory of Myths from Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays, Frye explores the archetypal patterns and symbols that recur in myths across different cultures and periods. The intricate interplay between myths and literature underscores how literature both draws from and reinterprets these mythic elements. Frye's archetypal criticism provides a powerful lens through which one can analyze and unveil the profound meanings and universal themes embedded within literary works. He posits that myths, as the ultimate wellspring of storytelling, offer a gateway to excavating the latent conflicts and narratives concealed within the annals of history (Frye, 2000).
Cecil Foster, in his work Blackness and Modernity, quotes Frye's perspective, asserting that "an ideology is a secondary and derivative structure, and that what human society does first is to create stories." In essence, mythology serves as the primordial source from which ideologies ultimately derive. This concept underscores the fundamental role of myth in shaping human thought and culture. (Foster, 2007)
Frye also posits that the plot or narrative of a literary work emerges organically from the metaphorical and poetic language in which myth is embodied. In this light, contemporary mythological novels bear a striking resemblance to Aristotle's concept of "mythos" or narrative, which he referred to as the animating formal cause—the very "soul" of a work—that assimilates all details into the realization of its unity. Frye's insight underscores the intrinsic relationship between myth and narrative structure in literature, highlighting how they converge to give depth and coherence to literary creations. (Frye, 2000)
In the influential work Mythologies, Roland Barthes redefines myth as a historically specific ideological worldview that organizes and guides social life. He posits that objects and concepts can attain the status of myth over time, persisting as enduring symbols in culture. Barthes sees myth as a form of communication, capable of transforming nearly any subject into a myth when conveyed through a specific discourse. The key characteristic of myth, according to Barthes, is its ability to present culturally specific elements as timeless and natural, thus reinforcing ideological narratives. By demystifying myth, Barthes aims to unveil the illusions that underpin national and social cultures. He emphasizes that myths, whether ancient or modern, have a historical foundation chosen by history to validate certain political ideas. This dual nature of myth, simultaneously universal and ideological, highlights its role in shaping and legitimizing societal beliefs. Levi-Strauss's scientific approach to mythology reveals the underlying structures within these narratives, providing insights into the human psyche. Demystification, treating myths as linguistic systems of signs and symbols, contextualizes them culturally and historically, deepening our understanding of their symbolic dimensions. Myths, transcending their origins, offer tools to explore contemporary issues and provide fresh insights. He writes, “Myth is a language and it is part of human speech… It is both the same thing as language and also something different from it” (Barthes, 1993).
The intersection of myth, literature, and demystification creates a captivating realm where timeless narratives evolve, illuminating modern conundrums and showcasing the enduring power of storytelling. Levi-Strauss likens myth to language, as it's both similar to and distinct from it. Mikics summarizes Levi-Strauss, depicting myths as fundamental thought structures governing human existence, rooted in oppositions like cultivated versus primitive and human versus divine, explaining natural phenomena and bearing distinct cultural structures. (Lévi-Strauss, 2003)
In the essay, “Myth Today”, Barthes considers myth as a type of speech - a second-order semiological system of communication that is a special preconditioned form of language with a message. Myth has a double function. It points out and notifies us, it makes us understand something and it imposes it on us. (Barthes, 1993)
For Malinowski in his Myth in Primitive Psychology (2011), myths are an ‘indispensable ingredient’ of all cultures, which are continually modified and renewed by the modifications of history (Malinowski, 2014).
Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island
Myths were inherently literary in structure. “Mythology as a total structure, defining as it does, a society’s religious beliefs, historical traditions, cosmological speculations, in short, the whole range of its verbal expressiveness – is the matrix of literature” (Frye, 2000).
Amitav Ghosh's novel Gun Islan’ skillfully blends mythology with modern themes. Ghosh's talent for weaving history, culture, and myth is evident in this 2019 book. The story takes readers from the present to the ancient past, connecting them through myths and legends. With settings like the Sundarbans and Venice, the novel blurs reality and imagination, making it a captivating and immersive read. Ghosh's use of mythology isn't just a backdrop; it's a driving force that prompts reflection on the enduring power of myths in shaping our world. Gun Island describes the quest of Deen, a scholar and collector of rare books, who returns from New York, his city of domicile, to the Sunderbans in West Bengal to unravel the mystery and legend of a seventeenth-century merchant, Bonduki Sada-gar, translated “The Gun Merchant,” and his persecution by Manasa Devi, mythical goddess of snakes.
In Amitav Ghosh's novel, Gun Island, the character of Manasa Devi (Snake Goddess) is first introduced through a conversation between Kanai Dutt and Deen, in which the myth of Chand Saudagar is discussed. This myth, crafted by Ghosh himself, serves as a central thread that weaves the novel's themes together. Deen's discovery of the Myth of Bonduki Saudagar and Manasa Devi and visits to The Shrine, as told by Nilima Bose, takes center stage. Here, he bears witness to the Great Cobra, a belief held by many that the snake perpetually resides within the Shrine of Mansa Devi.
Through this myth, Ghosh draws parallels between the Little Ice Age and our present-day reality, where natural disasters such as droughts, floods, cyclones, wildfires, and epidemics have become a ubiquitous part of life. The novel posits that these unprecedented climatic conditions are the primary cause of these disasters. Despite being intrigued by the myth of the Gun Merchant after hearing it from Kanai, Deen initially sees it as nothing more than a story, not worth his further consideration. However, while attending a conference in Los Angeles, he is moved by the speeches of a young speaker and Cinta, who suggest that there may be some truth to the myth after all. During his visit to Los Angeles for a conference, he once again had a startling encounter with nature. This time, he witnessed a yellow-bellied sea snake in the ocean, an encounter that tragically resulted in the demise of a nearby dog.
After the conference, Deen engaged in a deep conversation with Cinta about the myriad questions and confusions that had arisen from his encounters with the Manasa Devi Myth in Bangladesh. Together, they embarked on a quest to decipher the etymology of the various locations associated with the myth. Inspired by Cinta's wisdom and enthusiasm, Deen felt compelled to explore the enchanting city of Venice and trace the footsteps of the Gun Merchant, hoping to uncover the hidden truths concealed within the myth. Along his journey, Deen unraveled the intriguing and sometimes whimsical names of these places, all while diligently striving to unearth the veracity of the Gun Merchant's legend.
In the novel, Deen is introduced to a myriad of stories surrounding Bonduki Sadagar and his encounters with Manasa Devi, all recounted by individuals like Nilima Bose and Tipu. Among these tales, one particularly intriguing narrative unfolds, involving the Gun Merchant. As the story goes, Mansa Devi herself urged the Gun Merchant to become her devoted worshipper and construct a shrine in her honor. However, the Gun Merchant, initially reluctant, interpreted the trials and tribulations that befell him as signs sent by Mansa Devi, prompting him to seek refuge on an isolated island, which came to be known as Gun Island. Despite his best efforts to evade her, Mansa Devi eventually located him in this remote refuge, subjecting him to enduring torment and trials. It was during this grueling ordeal that the Gun Merchant finally acquiesced to Mansa Devi's divine will, embracing his role as her devoted worshipper. With newfound determination, he resolved to build a shrine dedicated to her amidst the mystic landscapes of the Sundarbans. Through the conversation with Horen Naskar, while visiting the shrine of the Gun Merchant, Deen is prompted to consider the reasons for the Gun Merchant's migration from Sundarbans. It becomes clear that the Gun Merchant may have been driven to leave his home by one of these very same factors that have caused other characters to migrate. “the disaster that had forced the Gun Merchant to flee his homeland: a drought so terrible that the streams, rivers, and ponds had dried up and the stench of rotting fish and dead livestock had hung heavy in the air.”(Ghosh, 2019)
At the end of the novel, Ship, Lucania embarks on a mission to protect the refugees aboard the blue boat. Unfortunately, this mission is met with opposition from right-wingers, much like the attack experienced by the Gun Merchant during his time as a slave of pirates. This parallel serves to reinforce the themes of the novel and draws connections between the past and the present. Additionally, while everyone was aboard the Lucania, a sudden change in the atmosphere occurred, a phenomenon known as bioluminescence. This event, with its mythical connotations, suggests the presence of Manasa Devi herself. This moment serves to underscore the importance of the myth and its significance within the larger context of the novel.
In the research paper entitled Myth and Contemporary Maithili Literature, Ratneshwar Mishra states that “myth corresponds neither to religion nor to science. It, rather, comforts both heart and mind and coalesces the gap between intellect and emotions, fact and ideal, the human and non-human” (Saccidānandan, 2010). Dinanath Datta, the central character of the novel, embarks on a captivating journey, tracing the footsteps and experiences of Bonduki Saudagar as relayed in the myth. Through this odyssey, he comes to a profound realization that the myth itself is a reflection of the tangible, lived experiences of an individual. As Deen traverses the path once trodden by the Gun Merchant, he finds himself facing parallel encounters, mirroring those described in the myth. On the beach, his flight, the Shrine, becomes a stage where he, too, confronts enigmatic snakes reminiscent of how Saudagar witnessed the presence of Manasa Devi in his own life. In this convergence of myth and reality, Deen's journey unravels the intricate tapestry of beliefs and experiences, blurring the lines between the two in a mesmerizing exploration of the human spirit. The dichotomy between history and myth often hinges on the distinction between literate and non-literate societies, with history predominantly emerging from literate societies and myths serving as a reservoir of the past in non-Western and less technologically advanced societies.
At the heart of the novel lies the captivating myth of the snake goddess Manasa, which Ghosh interlaces with the Santa Maria della Salute in Venice, also known as the Madonna of Good Health. This fusion of ancient folklore and contemporary symbolism serves as a thematic anchor, drawing connections between spirituality, health, and the environment. A central concept explored in Gun Island is the notion of a new universal religion—one centered on compassion towards nature and all living beings. Ghosh emphasizes a fluid, trans-temporal, and trans-spatial essence and existence, challenging conventional religious boundaries and promoting a harmonious coexistence with the natural world.
In his The Texture of Culture (2012), Aleksei Semenenko mentions that the beauty of myths lies in the fact that they do not “belong exclusively to the past and archaic cultures but constitute an intrinsic part of modern culture as well”(Semenenko, 2012). The myth of Prometheus, a central figure in Greek mythology, embodies the archetype of a benefactor who defies divine authority to bestow knowledge and power upon humanity. This enduring narrative has found striking resonance in recent real-world events, particularly within the realm of technological advancements. we undertake a comprehensive analysis of contemporary events that unmistakably reflect these mythical patterns in Gun Island, while concurrently accentuating the ethical dilemmas and repercussions mirroring the Promethean myth. These modern technological advancements function as a contemporary iteration of Prometheus's daring act of purloining fire, symbolizing the acquisition of transformative knowledge. In the context of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and space exploration, these innovations promise remarkable capabilities and possibilities while concurrently raising profound ethical questions. We explore the burgeoning ambitions of private space enterprises and the associated ethical concerns surrounding resource utilization, environmental impact, and the responsibilities of space exploration. In elucidating these developments, we draw explicit parallels to the Promethean myth, showcasing humanity's contemporary expansion into new frontiers and the ethical responsibilities that accompany such endeavors. This examination underscores the enduring relevance of the Promethean myth in our contemporary world, where humanity grapples with the dual nature of empowerment and responsibility amid the relentless pursuit of knowledge and technological progress.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the intricate relationship between mythology, literature, and contemporary culture is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and its ability to shape our understanding of the world. Amitav Ghosh's novel Gun Island exemplifies the enduring relevance of mythology in literature, where the ancient and the modern intersect. The novel Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh masterfully exemplifies the power of myth in addressing contemporary issues and forging connections between the ancient and the modern. Ghosh's skillful weaving of mythology, history, and reality creates a rich tapestry that not only adds depth and meaning to the narrative but also serves as a vehicle for exploring profound themes and environmental concerns. In a world where Plato once rejected myth as lacking in trusted truth and rationality, Ghosh's work demonstrates that myths can indeed serve as potent tools for understanding and engaging with our complex reality. By blurring the lines between truth and imagination, past and present, and humanity and nature, Ghosh challenges readers to rethink conventional boundaries and appreciate the enduring wisdom that myths provide. Ultimately, the conscious use of myth in contemporary literature, as exemplified by Gun Island, enriches the reading experience by bridging the timeless wisdom of ancient tales with the urgent issues and experiences of the modern world, reminding us that the threads of myth continue to weave their way through our lives, connecting us to the mysteries of existence. Exploration of the Promethean myth in the context of technological advancements underscores the ongoing dialogue between ancient narratives and our ever-evolving understanding of the world, we are reminded that the power of myth extends beyond the pages of literature. It shapes our cultural consciousness, influences our ethical choices, and guides us in addressing the pressing challenges of our times. As we reflect on the journey through myth and literature, we find that these timeless stories continue to illuminate our path forward, providing insight, inspiration, and a profound connection to the human experience. Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island serves as a vivid testament to the enduring relevance of mythology in literature, inviting us to embrace the wisdom of the past as we navigate the complexities of the present and the unknown horizons of the future.
References
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