The Relationship between Laos Literature and Society A Case Study of “Tradition and Life” Short Story

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the relationship between Laos literature and society from the “Tradition and Life” short story written by Boonsem Saagmanee. The results found that the “Tradition and Life” short story was a battle
of thoughts between the older and new generations. Thus, the social condition stated in the story was divided into the social condition of Lao’s older generation in the countryside and Lao’s new generation. In which, superstition in sprits, tradition and placing more importance on occupation than on education still could be seen in the older generation. And all of those thoughts were influenced by inheritance from the past. Meanwhile, the “Tradition and Life” short story also presented the new generation’s thoughts that conflicted with the older generation’s thoughts, by which they placed importance on education. Moreover, they also got support from the government and agencies which was the vital factor and variant that made the new generation’s thoughts change. However, the writer had created the middle generation to combine the older and new generations’ thoughts together. The “Tradition and Life” short story also represented the equality of giving importance to ethnic groups, by which children from these ethnic groups could gain education equally, allowing women to have equal rights and roles as men and presenting women’s crucial roles as a mother, wife, and daughter who had important roles in society both inside and outside their homes, who were behind the success, and who were the power in national development. In which, these reflected Lao femininities that had significant roles in the society of their country and still maintained the ideal Lao women according to the society’s expectation. All of this revealed openness and acceptance of women's roles in the society of Laos country. In addition, there was a presentation of war effects and wounds through the characters and narration including presenting the image of Laos nation-building and development by educating the citizens to have patriotism and the need to develop their country.