Bharata and the Bard: A Study on the Aesthetic Interplay using the Concept of Neta from Natyasastra with Major Female Characters from the Plays of William Shakespeare

Abstract

Indian drama and theatre have one of the finest, richest and the longest tradition in the
history of dramaturgy, and the success of any literature, be it a text or a play hugely depends
upon the playwright, plot and characters. A play needs a Neta or a Hero; who can lead not just the characters on stage but also the audience and inculcate different Rasas along the journey as it reaches its denouement. The concept of Neta and his basic characteristics and the emotions produced by the characters are crucial to fully comprehend the play. Bharata Muni, the Father of Indian theatrical art form, very explicitly mentions the importance of Rasa in his book Natyasastra. The facial and body expressions are major aspects when it comes to staging a drama, it is the essence of the play, which will enable the audience to incorporate different Rasas produced by the characters. Through this paper one can understand the presence of Indian aesthetics and significance of Natyasastra proposed by Bharata Muni in the 1st Century which is relevant even today.