Posted:
TO BE OR NOT TO BE ............. ARCHANA
For me, it's a not to be.
Many of you may read this and think that its really silly to say Not To Be for the lead character who has been picked as a star for her actions on innumerable occasions but the way I see it Archana is everything I would not want any girl to emulate (for the most part).
She is a victim - of her own making.
- I have never seen Archana as a victim (though many will disagree) but instead I have seen her as an enabler. She enables her own victimization.
- When she married Manav, she faced dowry demands and emotional torture at the hands of Savita. Yet she did not do anything positive or meaningful to stop it. She met the dowry demands through both her mother and her husband. She accepted the torture as some kind of manna from heaven and she even stopped her husband from defending or supporting her. In doing so, she compromised her own standing in the house, placed her husband in an unenviable position and left her self open to repeated injustices. She used the mahila samiti for Vandu but could not use it for herself?
- Her marriage was battered with the efforts of Savita and Manjusha. Yet, all those times she chose not to dwell deeper and try to learn the truth by speaking to her husband, instead she remained silent and allowed things to get more chaotic around her till it was too late.
- When she came back and learned of Shravani, she did not issue an ultimatum to Manav as she should have. Instead she enabled the situation by allowing a sindoor ceremony, a second engagement, a bigamous situation, a meaningless divorce, a post divorce relationship and even went so far as to do everything within her power to strengthen the foundation for shravani's marriage (asking neighbours to accept, doing grihapravesh, getting shravani back repeatedly, etc).
- When Rasika asked Vandu to slap her and Manav, instead of seeing it as a sign of more torture to come for Vandu, she allowed herself to be slapped and left Vandu in that hell hole to be raped and abused. She did everything in her power to PRESERVE Vandu's grihasti with a rapist.
- She has no sense of self, self worth, self preservation. In my mind Archana has done nothing to preserve women's rights or even her own, instead her actions have enabled women's subjugation in the show.
She is compassionate - but in a foolish sort of way.
- She forgives those that seek to hurt her but is unyielding for those that genuinely care about HER interests.
- She is so forgiving of Manjusha and Savita ' who have only suppressed her and done things to make her life miserable yet she is not equally compassionate of her mother's desire to protect her in her own way.
She speaks kindly - but in a patronizing sort of way.
- Her tone may be kind but she acts like a know-it-all and it is this patronizing undertone that ruffles other people's feathers.
- She calls Savita "Aai" repeatedly. Why? What has the woman done to merit this award? When she went to warn her on Friday, why did she fold her hands and beg her not to do anything to incur her wrath? What in Savita commands this kind of respect? It is this "I am better than you and you just haven't realized it yet" attitude in the middle of a rage driven argument that drives people to want to do her harm.
- When Savita came to create a tamasha in front of her house, why did she go to plead with her and preserve Savita's izzat? Why did she try to act like the better person and give her ALL her jewellry? Her kind but patronizing tone did not calm the matter but further instigated it. Sav was there to rant at Manav her son not at Archu. Why did SICK Archu come like a brave soul into the battle and then leave like some battered princess?
- She spoke in a similar fashion to Vinod when she told him why she took away his children and gave them to Manjusha. What if it had not been Vinod but Vaishali instead? Do you think her kind patronizing "I know best" attitude would have garnered her any votes of appreciation? I think not. She made Vinod feel guilty for walking out on Manjusha when what he did at the time was justifiable yet when Varsha left her sasural for something that can be argued as being extremely wrong, she was spoon fed and treated like the prodigal child who had always been misunderstood. Her compassion and forgiveness are always misdirected.
- What was the need to go to Savita's house and give the bhashan on Friday? Savita threw her husband in jail because he locked her up. Savita was protecting herself. Manav as a son had a full right to intervene. But not Archu. So why go there and plead with Savita not to do this again? Why meddle and introduce yourself into every situation and make matters worse?
- In fact, I think she is too meddlesome and needs to be reigned in. If she is so interested in improving and preserving lives maybe she should start with her own.
She is capable - but repeatedly ignores her capabilities and makes herself dependant when she can be independent.
- She is a good housemaker, a wonderful cook and a charming person. Why does she not use these basic skills to do some home-based business? Why does she use her lack for university education to remain bekar? I know many women back home that use basic skills to make a very decent living for themselves. Yet Archu repeated wastes an able body and mind by REMAINING A DEPENDANT. She gave up a job, gave tuitions for free, acted like a governess for Vinod's children for free and a maid for Savita and Shravani for free. What is she waiting for? A miraculous jackpot? What is wrong with her that she cannot be gainfully employed?
She can be brave - but in a window dressing kind of way.
- Her braveness is all talk and no action and amounts to squat.
- She bravely confronted Rasika for Savita's humiliation. And then what? Was there any retribution as promised? Did Savita's insults at the hand of Rasika stop? Was there any effect other then temporary drama? None. In fact, she did not even safeguard Vandu after issuing her very public threat to Rasika. She left with an abusive husband and MIL to face the fallout.
- She bravely slapped Shravani for saying something bad about her baby in a moment of anger. Then what, she fed her, took care of her, gave her her husband, did her baby shower, etc. etc. yet this bravado was missing at varsha's time?
- She slapped Dharmesh and sunaoed him a bhashan for his treatment of Manav and then what? She accepted his bail money to get out of prison, went back to work for him, etc, etc.
- She defied her mother and walked away with Manav and then what? No game plan, ended up on the streets, got arrested, got sick and ultimately had to be cared for by the same mother she defied.
- She bravely gave a bhashan to Savita on Friday, then what? She folded her hands and pleaded with Savita not to let her implement her threat?
- Her bravery is non-existent and her bravado is a front.
This thread may be seen as a bashing thread if you think her actions have been misrepresented here.
I see it as just another character analysis as I neither love nor hate this character. At best I find her un-relatable at worst irritating.
Ankita Lokhande is a pretty girl and a talented actress (when she is not crying all the time) and I have to say that it is entirely her efforts and presence that has made a weak character like Archana lovable for so many.
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