Epics of India Storybook

I believe Duryodhana suffers from an inferiority complex. His cousins have much more going for them, popularity with the people and prowess in war. He desperately wants to be better and to have more than everyone else, but he is severely lacking. In his disappointment with himself and resentment of his situation, he seeks to sabotage the success and happiness of others—as he did in the plot to kill his cousins in the fire. He latches on to anyone he thinks can help him in his cause, like Karna; he may appear to be helping them out, but he is only using them to hurt others.

Even though they are both the antagonists of their respective stories, Duryodhana and Ravana are very different characters. Ravana is not a human being like Duryodhana; he is a demon, a straight-forwardly evil character. Ravana is overly confident and proud. He suffers from no inferiority complex! Both characters are selfish. Ravana, however, has the strength to make happen what he wants to happen, as in battle with the gods and in the abduction of Sita. Duryodhana, on the other hand, does not have the same success. His plans always seem to fail, no matter how crafty they are: he always ends up less happy than he would like.

Ravana comes across as nothing more than a big bully. He has all the wealth and power and women that any demon could ever need, yet he still wrongs Sita and Rama. Unlike Ravana, I think Duryodhana can be a somewhat sympathetic character. Duryodhana believes he should have the respect of his father and the popularity with the people. He is the real son of the king, after all, not just his nephew. He feels mistreated by the world around him. Even though his actions are not right or good, I believe they are understandable and I feel some degree of sympathy for him. I believe his actions will bring about great pain to those that he tries to sabotage. As so often happens in real life, I believe his actions will bring great pain to himself, as well, and not the happiness he desires.