In the history of the Ramayana, every character could be identified with an archetype but slowly and gradually with years, the association with a specific archetype has been dismantled and disintegrated into various characters being identified within various archetypes.

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Through case studies and conversations, I observed that in the 21st century almost all the mythological characters in the Ramayana can be interpreted in different ways, making each of them a multi-layered character with different personalities. The same happens with the character Ravan. 

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Ravana is the chief antagonist in the Hindu Epic the Ramayana and its adaptations. He is widely considered to be a symbol of evil whereas in Sri Lanka he’s worshipped as a great ruler but as our socio-political scenario changes with the years, our understanding of him has also changed. His archetype of a rebel has been manipulated and re-interpreted by writers, educators, counsellors etc. and moulded in such a way that it makes sense in the present.

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This archive as a resource helps facilitate people in understanding this re-interpretations and seeing how can archetype can be moulded and re-moulded.