‘শ্যামা’ নৃত্যনাট্য : একটি মনস্তাত্বিক বিশ্লেষণ/ 'Syama' Dance Drama: A Psychological Analysis

Abstract

Rabindranath Tagore’s dance drama Shyama—evolved from his poem Porishodh— stands as a seminal work exploring the darker recesses of the human psyche. While often celebrated for its lyrical beauty, the narrative serves as a profound case study in the conflict between primal desire and moral conscience. This paper aims to analyze the three main characters through a psychological lens- by examining Shyama, moving beyond the label of ‘court dancer’ to analyse her as a study in obsessive love and moral dissonance. It further explores the psychological toll of survivor’s guilt embodied by Bajrasen and the altruistic self-sacrifice of Uttiyo. By examining the narrative arc from the ‘dangerously selfish plan’ to the inevitable ‘tragic realism’ at the ending, this study applies psychological frameworks to the concepts of conflicts theory, buoyant force theory, narcissism, self-esteem and filtering theory. The analysis suggests that Tagore’s departure from a traditional ‘happily ever after’ in favor of a ‘poignant, tragic ending’ is a psychological necessity.