Sedona Introduction

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Introduction of the Novel

Sedona by Eva Ranaweera (1973) stands out as an out of the ordinary novel because of many

reasons. Ranweera can be considered as a longtime activist for womens rights. In Her novel

Sedona she have been bold enough to write about a subject that only a few of Sri Lankan women

writers have touched. Moreover in her writings she uses her own and unique style. The main

character in the bookSedona is not just another woman. She is the symbol of torment women

face, when pursued and used just for sexual satisfaction.

The novel portrays the life of a poor village woman from her childhood to her late adulthood.

The author centering on the character, portrays the stark reality of village. She narrates how

parentless Sedona became a slave at the hand of the villagers and how her maiden love offered to

a married man and she was insulted. It depicts the plight of an improvised woman in the village,

cruelty, hypocritical moral standings in it and deeply reading of life.

When analyzing the character of Sedona in the context of Sri Lankan women's society, it is a

very important character. Her tragedy became more cruel not because of poverty alone but

because of her being a woman. She suffers as a woman in miserable poverty. The villagers

rallied, not to rescue her from her plight but to exploit her, to use her like a toy of the village. She

braves all these challenges.

The novel deals about the main theme of forbidden love shared between young and unmarried

Sedona andDiyonis Ayya who is a married man. According to Rev. Thebuketiye Dhammananda

(http://www.silumina.lk/punkalasa/20100801/_art.asp?fn=ar10080111). There are two

significant features about this very novel.

First is the manner in whichRanweera deals with the main theme of forbidden love. Secondly it

is her radical style in describing the relationship between Sedona andDiyonis Ayya. Because ofthese two aspects the novel stands out from the other novels that deals with the similar theme.

The relationship between two lovers go against the norms and conservative village they live.

However with her unique style of language Ranweera has been able to upraise the forbidden

relationship into something beautiful.

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http://www.silumina.lk/punkalasa/20100801/_art.asp?fn=ar10080111http://www.silumina.lk/punkalasa/20100801/_art.asp?fn=ar10080111


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She has hidden a magnet in her mind. Otherwise, why is she drawn towards the same end?

She worked. Even at the bathing well Diyonis Aiyas shadow fell. It was quite later Sedona

Realised the she had stirred a hornets nest.. (52)

with honey smeared on her lips and the fragrance of Ruk flowers full in her nose, she spent

her days without a care in the world (54)

..She was there in the boulder in the rubber estate with the rock tortoise at dead of night;

litenning to the sound of the rubber seeds bursting and feeling the coolness of the breese that

blew across the hills. The boulder, dampened with dew, turned out to be one single bed of roses.

Building fireflies to visit the world of stars far away (54)

In the English translation of Sedona (2008) Edmund Jayasuriya has pointed this out in the

preface. Handling of language and the creation of moods are the two points that make this

novel outstanding. Particularly, the love affair between Sedona and Diyonis Aiya is handled so

tastefully that it strikes the reader with a sense of awe and wonderment. (Sedona English

Translation preface)

It is considered that in the novel Ranaweera has elevated the simple uneducated poor village

women to the status of a universal symbol of women. Universally woman is seen only as a

lustful object for men who use her for sexual satisfaction only. Throughout the novel Sedona is

seen as a victim of male gaze and an object of their desire. Eventually she is rejected from the

society when she spurns their advances. In the English translation of the novel the translator

sums up the life story of Sedona in his preface saying Sedona tells the story of a village

woman abused by men and finally, discarded like dirt.

Moreover the novel Sedona is not just a mere description of the dilemma of a woman pursued by

men for their sexual enjoyments. The novel is rooted in a village setting and it examines the role

played by women in the rural society in transition. The village in which the Sedona is based is a

highly changing one in the aspects of values and culture. These values are set against the

traditional and conventional values of rural Sri Lanka and the author raises the question of

whether so called good and clean values of rural culture actually exist. This question arises

because of the double natured way the villagers actually practice.

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The double standards of the villagers practice are illustrated in the way they look at the

unconventional relationship between Sedona and Diyonis Ayya. At this point villagers get

together to condemn Sedona going to the extreme of making her an outcast. However it does not

prevent the other men in the village from pursuing her for pleasure.

Sedona felt that the entire village was claiming ownership of her. Everyone has the right to

the public cemetery (65)

.Sedona couldnt locate the fault that she committed. Several threw stones at her; all of them

vying to share her life (67)

On the other hand it is the very men who comes after Sedona, spread ugly rumors about her to

make her an outcast in the village.

The novel Sedona is all about relationships: between the village woman Sedona and the people

surrounding her. The significant feature about these relationships is that they are never refereed

directly. Instead of describing these relationships in an explicit manner the author hints about the

relationships with subtle statements.

The rock tortoise is a borrowed one (56)

Sedona looked back and found Babanis with his eyes lowered. A cluster of araliya flowers

was in his hand. With his eyes still lowered, he extended the cluster of flowers to Sedona.

Babanis stood motionless. Sedona took the flowers with a smile. (59)

today Sedona has several people. She could count them on the fingers of one hand. First

Babanis, second Babanis, third Babanis, fourth, where is Diyonis Aiya? Where is he?... (70)

In the preface to the English translation of Sedona, the translator notes this feature.

..Nowhere in the novel is a direct statement found the affir between Sedona and Diyonis Aiya,

the relationship between Sedona and Babanis who comes to her rescue when she is down and out

in life, or the relationship between Sedona and Diyonis Aiyas wife are subtly hinted at, thus

creating a poignant and remarkable sensation.

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Sedona Introduction