Which of these plays by Girish Karnad shares its theme with Thomas Mann’s The Transposed Heads?​

Correct option is A

Explanation:

Girish Karnad's play Hayavadana is strongly associated with the theme explored in Thomas Mann’s The Transposed Heads. Both works engage with the themes of identity, the body, and the mind, as well as the transformation of these concepts. In The Transposed Heads, Mann explores a story where the heads of two men are swapped, leading to an exploration of the conflict between the body and the mind. Similarly, Hayavadana deals with the theme of the duality of human nature, identity, and physicality.

In Hayavadana, Karnad uses a mythical and philosophical framework to explore questions of self and the mind-body connection. The play's central conflict involves the protagonist Devadatta, who experiences a crisis of identity when his head is swapped with that of his friend, Kapila. This transformation raises questions about the relationship between the mind (consciousness) and the body (physical appearance), similar to the thematic concerns in Mann's novel.

The play also draws upon traditional Indian mythology and folklore, incorporating a unique blend of Western and Indian cultural elements. Karnad uses this narrative to challenge the assumptions about identity, personhood, and the inherent tension between physical and mental attributes.

Information Booster:

Hayavadana

• Written by Girish Karnad in 1971, Hayavadana is a play that blends Indian mythology with Western philosophical concerns, particularly around the theme of identity.
  
• The play is inspired by the themes of The Transposed Heads by Thomas Mann, specifically focusing on the complexities of mind-body duality, and the essence of being.
  
• The play begins with the character Hayavadana, a man with the head of a horse, searching for a way to regain his human identity, and this theme of the body and identity is central to the plot of Hayavadana.
  
• The play's structure is also heavily influenced by the Kathakali tradition of theatre, making it a significant contribution to the Indian theatre canon.
  

Thomas Mann's The Transposed Heads

• Mann's 1940 novella The Transposed Heads centers on the story of two men whose heads are switched, exploring the implications of this change on their lives and identities.
  
• The novella touches on ideas about the mind-body connection, identity, and the roles that the body and psyche play in forming a person’s self-concept.
  
• The story is a modern reflection on a question that has intrigued philosophers for centuries: What defines a person? Is it the mind, the body, or the combination of both?
  

Themes of Identity and Transformation

• Both Hayavadana and The Transposed Heads delve into the psychological and existential crises that result from the physical disconnection from the self.
  
• In Hayavadana, the mind-body conflict is literally symbolized when Devadatta and Kapila swap heads, while in The Transposed Heads, the same theme is explored in a more symbolic context.
  
• These works challenge our understanding of what truly constitutes our identity: our minds, our bodies, or a combination of both.
  

Cultural Significance in Hayavadana

• While The Transposed Heads is a Western narrative, Hayavadana is deeply rooted in Indian culture, blending elements of Indian mythology, especially from Hindu thought, with modern psychological concepts.
  
• The play challenges traditional Indian notions of identity, while also critiquing social and philosophical norms related to the mind-body connection.
  
  

​Additional Knowledge:

Yayati – Based on the story from the Mahabharata, Yayati focuses on the themes of aging, desire, and human fallibility.

Nagamandala – This play deals with themes of magic, transformation, and love.

Tale Danda – Tale Danda is concerned with the political and social life of medieval Karnataka and deals with questions of caste and power.