Rabindranath Tagore's Punishment is the story of the complex relationship between a low-caste family in India. When Dukhiram murders his own wife Radha his brother Chidam asks his wife Chandara to take the blame.
Even the "pillar of the village" Ramlochan agrees that if he loses his wife he can replace her but he cannot replace his brother. Chandara is shocked by her husbands request. At this point all she wants is to no longer be with her husband. The only way she can accomplish this is to go along with her husbands story and accept the punishment.
At the time of the trial the conscience of Chidam and Dukhiram got the better of them and admitted to the real story. However, Chandara continued to proclaim that she was the one who killed Radha. She was convicted and sentenced to die.
Punishment says a lot about the way that women were oppressed at the time. Choosing death over your husband is a dramatic statement. It is difficult to imagine a situation where death is the best option.
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