Nang Nak

The Issue of Excessive Dependence as Exemplified by the Movies Nang Nak and Devi What is most captivating about human nature is perhaps the natural inclination of most to fall in love with the discovery or worship of what one chooses to be devoted to. In relation to this is the manner in which the the characters from the two movies, Nang Nak and Devi, have demonstrated an extreme devotion to certain things in their life. In Nang Nak, Mak showed love for Nak up to the point that he denied reality. In Devi, this was shown through the people’s devotion, more importantly her father-in-law’s, to their religion led them to the ignorant treatment of Doyamoyee, a woman who was believed to be the incarnation of the Goddess Kali. In both cases, the recurring theme of idolatry is dominant among the personalities of the characters in the movie. Though the idolatry was manifested in a somewhat negative way, it led me to realize that I've barely scratched the surface when it comes to my knowledge and experience with devotion and faith. I initially thought that people had only been compelled to be committed to what they are expected to be worshiping or dedicating themselves to because of the dictates of society and their environment. However, through the use of metaphors and imagery in both films, it has given me enlightenment on the reasons why people subject themselves to extreme dedication to a certain element in their life. The reason not being love, but being the human instinct to depend on something in the different challenges that life throws at us. On the one hand, the movie Nang Nak depicted a couple's love that goes beyond death and tragedy. A brief summary of the movie is that the protagonist Mak had to go to war for his country leaving his pregnant wife Nak in the village. The tragedy happens when Nak undergoes a problematic child labor that leads to her death. Nak,being unable to let go of her earthly attachments became an apparition waiting for Mak's return.