#rashta

No one and I mean NO ONE will ever make me hate my girls.

1-Know that Rashta is a complex and well-written character who was also a victim. Yes, despite some of her terrible actions, she truly deserved better. She was enslaved, raped, abused, beaten, and starved. Meanwhile, Navier is a bland Mary Sue rather than the "girlboss" many fans claim she is, especially considering that she defends slavery and is friends with a slave owner.

2-Recognize that some relationships are not romantic, but are actually examples of Stockholm syndrome or abusive victim–abuser dynamics.

3-Believe that both Eckles and Penelope are complex characters who were both at fault. Penelope manipulated and used Eckles for her own benefit, while Eckles betrayed and harmed his own people. You're free to love or hate either of them, but don't blame only Eckles while completely excusing Penelope.

4-Don't defend a female lead simply because the story is told from her point of view. Sometimes the protagonist is bland, poorly written, or makes mistakes while shifting the blame onto others instead of taking responsibility.

5-Don't defend a male lead just because he's kind to the female lead. Pay attention to how he treats other women as well, and recognize when his behavior is problematic.

6-Hold parents accountable instead of blaming their children for the adults' actions or failures.

7-Don't hate the first woman simply because the female lead or the new love interest entered the story.

8-Don't hate side female characters just because they "steal the spotlight" from the female lead. Instead, you try to understand their perspective and motivations.

9-You understand how problematic some manhwas are, despite their popularity.

10-respect other manhwa fans and their opinions, even if they're unpopular or different from yours. You don't force your views on others and can agree to disagree, as long as they aren't supporting genuinely harmful things such as rapists, abusive victim × abuser ships, or pedophilia.

Navier is Slavier

(for condoning and befriending Rashta's abusive slave owner Lebetti)

Heinrey can be Heinazi

(commits war crimes and actively harms literal children by stealing their magic)

I wanted to draw Rashta for Halloween, but as always, I didn't make it in time, and I won't be able to finish it (⁠･ั⁠ω⁠･ั⁠)

And both are victims of patriarchy and men.

Sold as a slave by her father as a child.

Used by Alan and later got abandoned after getting pregnant by him.

Her relationship with Sovieshu matches with Ophelia and Hamlet in many ways. He was her first true love. Ophelia gave Hamlet her virginity, While Rashta pretended to be a virgin with Sovieshu, she gave Sovieshu her heart for the first time in her life. And when she found out, he doesn't really love her, that's when everything started the crumble down. That was the last thread that was holding her down to sane world. She was already inching towards madness after her first pregnancy, than being separated from her second baby (we saw her singing like a mad woman with a doll). She already lost her mind but the illusion of Sovieshu's love for her, was holding her down but when he denied of ever loving her, her world crumbled down. Both her and Ophelia suffered from erotomania, and their sexuality plays a big role in their lives.

Ophelia wasn't tormented by her father or brother like Rashta. Rashta was tormented by her former slaver owner lotteshu before and after her becoming the empress. The man that traumatized her from her first pregnancy. But Rashta followed his orders out of fear, Ophelia followed them out of obedience and trusting their judgment. Ergi kinda plays similar role to Polonius and Lesertas. Both parties using women to profit from their targeted man (Sovieshu, Hamlet).

Ergi also misguiding her, laying traps for her and ultimately playing a big role in her down fall. Ergi also somewhat carries the role of Hamlet (disdain for women and their frailty)

All of her biggest offenders and helpers were men. There was no significant woman's touch in her life. Due to patriarchy, women were portrayed as her biggest enemies supported by Lebetti's actions, noble women looking down on her and men's treatment towards because of her beauty and women feeling threatened by it.

She was isolated from women surrounding her.

And when the only woman that tried to help her (Aryan), Rashta was already driven mad, paranoid by the men in her life and she committed a horrible thing.

Her death is equally tragic like Ophelia. Ophelia's death is debated between accident and suicide. But both of their deaths were influenced by the tragedy surrounding her.

Ophelia is loved, because she's a perfect victim. She doesn't stand in the way of the protagonist like Rashta. Even though Ophelia spied on Hamlet, following her father's order, she's still loved (rightfully so).

But Rashta is hated both by the narration and readers because she's not a perfect victim and she stands in the way of protagonist.

She's not a submissive character like Ophelia, rather she bites back, lashes out, acts like the monster they created.

I'm not saying Rashta and Ophelia are same but they're both victims of patriarchy. And both faced tragic ending because of it.

(This needs broader discussion and explanation but that's for another day).

I wonder how the story would feel if it started from Rashta's childhood and ended with her death. A grey protagonist with unstable mind, a narration that doesn't excuse her behavior but doesn't vilify her either. I think if some author that has a good grasp on human nature and isn't narrow minded, can do justice to Rashta's character or a write a character inspired by her.