Abstract:
This thesis aims at the analysis of age, gender, class, and race in the detective novels namely The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency of Alexander McCall Smith, Khunpa Mathun of Kaewkao, and The Samoson Naksuep series of Naya in which the heroes are old-aged female detectives in order to make a comparative study between Thai and Western detective novels.
The study on the age indicates that the creation of old-aged characters having the identity of young people is for the conformation with the detectives role. According to the tradition, the heroes of the detective novels have some specific aspects. They are young men of middle or high class with legislative knowledge, wisdom, far-sightedness, scientific knowledge and ability in reasoning. This is for the opposition of the discourse on the society of the old-aged. However, the invention and the presentation of the old-aged are against the myth of the main trend of the society. The emphasis of the mentioned myth also causes the conflict on the self of the old-aged.
The investigation on gender shows that the making of female characters with male identity to work in the public space is to counter against the social myth relating to women. Their experience, knowledge, thinking, and instinct are naturally equal to mens or even better. However, the depending on the narrative of the detective characters to argue with mens power and other female characters indicates their weakness, the need of being protected, and men depending. This also shows the antithesis of womens selves.
The study on class indicates that the class relations exhibited in the novels showing that the authors still call for the old society of equality, or suitable support. They also show the evilness of capitalism. In the same time the authors do not accept the class equality. This causes the opposition from the adherence to the myth of self and other disparity.
The study on race shows that Thai characters in these novels accept the myth that Thai people are inferior to the Western. However, the creation of the colored heroes, and the narrative on their space, way of life, and their memory with the emphasis on mind goodness are the methods of the opposition against the discourse on the whites wisdom and morality superior than that of the colored. It can preserve the self identity of the colored from the assimilation of the globalization culture.