Abstract:
This thesis aims at studying and analyzing women's roles as shown in Luang Vichit-vadakan's novels and short stories, by researching into various sorts of literary works which display the author's attitude toward the changes in women's roles. The study also includes social background in relation to the aspects of research. Thorough analysis of the aforementioned works reveals that female characters in those works were influenced by changes in social background and from women who, in certain aspects, had some influence on the life of Luang Vichit-Vadakan, the author. These influences had inspired him to introduce women as protagonists who consequently play a major part in the story development. For this reason, his novels and short stories have proven to be uniquely interesting and worth examining. Having a female character as protagonist marks a challenge of thoughts of everyone, a s in Thai society, men assume the role of leaders, while women usually stay behind. In his novels and short stories, Luang Vichit-Vadakan has presented women as family leaders as well as leaders at the levels of the country and of the world. Also, women displayed courage in helping men protect the country while giving full attempt to reach the highest intellectual and capability development. In conclusion, it is obvious that Luang Vichit-Vadakan's purpose in writing novels and short stories is not merely to entertain his readers but also to bring forward his attitudes which, hopefully, will lead to changes of social roles of Thai women