Examining Cambodian Literal Structuralisms, Ideologies and Social Moralities: A Case Study of Tom Teav Novel
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56981/S511Keywords:
Cambodian novels, Structuralism, Inferential Ideologies, Moralities, LiteratureAbstract
This study was geared to explore the Khmer novel and folktale structuralisms and investigate the implicit ideological inferences, and social moralities by qualitative elaborations. One Khmer folktale and two novels from the national curriculum syllabi of grade 10 were opted for this study. As a result, the characteristics of the Khmer folktale framework of literature consisted of three distinguishing main parts: introduction, body, and ending sections while the implied ideologies were found differently from one to another and abreast with time shifts. What we can learn from those social moralities were thriving or deteriorating. Upon the systematically archival method, “Tum and Teav” is a poignant exploration of the conflict between personal desires and societal expectations set against a backdrop of love, duty, and deception. The narrative centers on Tum, a monk who falls in love with Teav, a woman constrained by familial and social obligations. Their relationship, marked by genuine affection, contrasts sharply with the manipulative actions of Teav’s mother and Or Chun, who represent societal pressure and deceit. The story delves into themes of freedom versus confinement, individual desires versus societal norms, and the ethical dilemmas of honesty versus deception. Through its rich cultural symbols—such as the pagoda and the royal palace—the narrative illustrates the struggles of navigating personal happiness within the rigid frameworks of authority and tradition. The underlying ideology advocates for personal fulfillment and authenticity, challenging the constraints imposed by societal and familial duties.
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