World War I in Thai Plays during the Reign of King Rama VI (1910-1925): Presentation Techniques and Concepts
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background and objective (s): During the reign of King Rama VI (King Vajiravudh), the period of creation of Thai literary texts about World War I, including non-fiction and fiction, lasted from 1914 to 1924. However, imaginative writings, especially plays, have rarely been studied on the subject of this war, despite the fact that these plays display intriguing literary techniques in conveying various perspectives on World War I. Therefore, this study aimed to examine literary techniques for presenting concepts concerning World War I in Thai plays during the reign of King Rama VI to demonstrate how Thai authors interpreted historical events for literary creation.
Methodology: The research for this paper relied on a close literary reading method to analyze textual elements such as plot, characters, settings and poetic devices. This textual analysis was then related to the political contexts during the reign of King Rama VI.
Main result: Thai authors presented various aspects of World War I, including warring parties, armaments, strategies and heroes in their various types of popular plays. These aspects of the war were incorporated into elements of the plays, including plot, characters, settings and poetic devices. Through these techniques, the plays conveyed three main concepts concerning World War I, namely, wartime conflict, national security and kingship. All of these concepts can be related to political conflicts during the reign of King Rama VI that involved the status of Siam in World War I and the administrative policies of King Rama VI, among other issues.
Relevance to Thai Studies: The research for this article was a sociopolitical study of Thai literature that focused on the relationship between an historical event and the imaginative process in the creation of wartime literary works.
Conclusion: Thai plays during the reign of King Rama VI incorporated various aspects of World War I in literary elements of the texts to convey concepts related to the political conflicts at that time, including the status of Siam in World War I and other political conflicts.These plays were, thus, not only literary texts created for entertainment purposes, but also for political reasons, especially to support the monarchy’s national and international policies during that period.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Journal of Thai studies is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivatives4.0 Intenational (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence, unless otherwise stated. Plese read our Policies page for more information on Open Access, copyright and permissions.
References
Amondarunarak, Chamuen. (1969). Het phon thi ratchakan thi 6 song prakat songkhram lae Dusit Thani [Rationale of King Rama VI declared war and Dusit Thani]. Phranakhon: Kurusapa Business Organization.
Asvabahu. (1914). Unity. In Nangsue “Nueang duai kan maha songkhram” [The Story about the Great War] (p. 13-15). Asvabahu. (ed.). N.p.: n.p.
Boontandha, T. (2013). King Vajiravudh and the Making of His Military Image. [Master’s thesis,Chulalongkorn University]. https://cuir.car.chula.ac.th/handle/123456789/42948
Chintamas, R. (1988). Concepts of Thai Leaders regarding “Nation,” to Involve in World War I of Thailand. [Master’s thesis, Thammasat University]. https://digital.library.tu.ac.th/tu_dc/frontend/Info/item/dc:163746
Dusitkul, T. (2004). Bot Khon Lakhon (Classical Dance Drama Texts) by King Rama VI . [Master’s thesis, Chulalongkorn University]. https://cuir.car.chula.ac.th/handle/123456789/2707
Hell, S. (2017). Siam kap maha Songkhram lok khrang thi 1: prawattisat sakon [Siam and World War I: An International History]. Bangkok: River Books.
Hutinta, A. (2005). Semi-film Plays: King Rama VI’s Creative Work. In Phasa lae wannakamsarn: pas alae wannakam Phrabatsomdet PhraMongkutklaochaoyuhua prat haeng Siam [Language and literature: language and literature by King Rama VI] (pp. 125-156). Imsamran,B. (ed.). Bangkok: P.Press.
Khao Tang Prathe [Foreign news]. (1914). Sattriniphon, 1 (6), 137-139.
Khechoncharatrit, Prince. (1915). Tai nam [The Tainam play]. Samuthasan, 2 (13), 115-145.
Khippachawano. (1914). Kan songkhram tai nam [Underwater war]. Samuthasan, 1 (3), 101-140.
Malakul, Mom Luang Pin. (2009). Ngan lakhon khong Phrabatsomdet Phra ramathibodimaha Vajiravudh PhraMongkutklao chao phaendin Siam [Drama texts of King Vajiravudh]. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University.
Michubot, W. (2010). Kret phongsawadan ratchakan thi 6 [Historical anecdote in the reign of King Rama VI]. Bangkok: Sangsanbooks.
Meesuk, N. (1997). An Analysis of Lakhon Sangkheet. (Research Report). Thaksin university, Songkhla, Thailand.
Moreland, A. (1915-1925). The History of the Hun. (Ramachitti, Trans.). N.p.: n.p.
Nor.Mor.Sor. (1917). Tham yang Hun [Morals of the Hun]. Samuthasan, 4 (33), 76-78.
Numnon, T. (2002). Young Turk run raek: kabot 130 Thai minor Era, 2454 BE [First Young Turk Generation: The Palace Revolt of 1912]. (3rd ed.). Bangkok: Saithan.
Phaisansinlapasat, Phraya. (1916).Kitchakan khong ratchanawi Angkrit [British Royal Affairs]. Samuthasan, 3 (25), 99-175.
Phanlaem. (1914a). Kan yut thang thale nai Europe [Marine Battle in Europe]. Samuthasan, 1 (1), 105-111.
Phanlaem. (1914b). Ruea rop mai khong Angkrit [New War Ships of England]. Samuthasan, 1 (1), 133-137.
Ramachitti. (1915). Kan chom haeng ruea Lusitania [The Sinking of the Lusitania]. Samuthasan, 2 (8), 69-111.
Ramachitti. (1917). Amnat khue tham [Might is Right]. N.p.: n.p.
Ramachitti. (2017). Behavior among the commanders and their soldiers. In 100 pi songkhram lok khrang thi 1: phra ratchaniphon an nueang duai ngan phra ratcha songkhram na thawip Europe lem 6 [100 years World War I: the works of King Vajiravudh concerning
World War I, Volume 6] (pp. 93-100). Siripai, S. (ed.). Bangkok: King Vajiravudh Memorial Foundation.
Royal Institute. (2009). Royal Institute Dictionary of Thai Literature. Bangkok: Royal Institute.
Saelee, C., & Theekaprasertkul, P. (2020). The Images of Chinese and Westerners in Literary Works of King Rama VI. Ganesh Journal, 2(16), 41-58.
Siripai, S. (1985). Phrabatsomdet PhraMongkutklaochaoyuhua kap songkhram lok khrang thi nueng [King Vajiravudh and World War I]. Bangkok: King Vajiravudh Memorial Foundation.
Smitabhindu, K. (1986). A Study of The Development of Characters in King Rama VIS Plays. [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Silpakorn University.
Sri Ayudhya. (1893-1925a). Chuai amnat lakhon phut ong diao [The Coup d’ Etat 1 act play]. N.p.: n.p.
Sri Ayudhya. (1893-1925b). Sia sala: lakhon phut 4 ong [Sacrifice: 4 acts play]. N.p.: n.p.
Sri Ayudhya. (1893-1925c). Than rong lakhon phut rueang thahan bok 4 ong [Second in Command, 4 act play about the army]. N.p.: n.p.
Sri Ayudhya. (1922). Phit winai: lakhon phut 3 ong [Contrary to discipline: 3 act play]. N.p.: n.p.
Sri Ayudhya. (1977). Nam yok ao nam bong samnuan raek lae Wiwaha phra samut [The Nam yok Ao Nam Bong play (first version) and The Marriage of Neptune play]. Bangkok: Mahamakut Buddhist University Foundation.
Surinthracha, Praya. (1919). Khwam charoen khong Sueapa tam changwat [Development of Wild Tiger Corps in the Provinces in Thailand]. Dusitsamit, 6 (special), 53-57.
Suwunnanonda, K. (1981). King Rama VI and His Nation Building Programmers. [Master’s thesis, Chulalongkorn University]. https://cuir.car.chula.ac.th/handle/123456789/17599
Thammasakmontri, Phraya. (1915). Dutsadi Emden [Admiration of His Majesty’s Ship Emden]. Samuthasan, 2(5), 46-50.
Thang Thi Rao Tong Doen [The right way]. (1917, June 12). Bangkok Daily Mail, p.2.
Thotsasiriwong, Prince. (1950). Bot lakhon rueang Nam chai det diao lae Plom kai [The Nam Chai Det Diao play and the Plom Kai play]. Phranakhon: Tironnasan.
Trirawanit, S. (1989). Phrabatsomdet PhraMongkutklaochaoyuhua kap kan nang sue phim: rai ngan phon kan Wichai [King Rama VI and Journalism, a Research Report]. Bangkok: King Vajiravudh Memorial Foundation.
Vajiravudh (Rama VI), H.R.M. (1916). Kan songkhram pom khai prachit: pathakatha [Trench warfare: lecture]. Phranakho: Sophonphiphatthanakon.
Vajiravudh (Rama VI), H.R.M. (1975). Pakinnakakhadi Phrabatsomdet PhraMongkutklao chaoyuhua [Miscellany of King Rama VI]. (2nd ed.). Bangkok: Khlangwitthaya.
Vajiravudh (Rama VI), H.R.M. (1976). Bot lakhon phut rueang Ruea tai nam luang “Nonsi” lae Mahatama [The HTMS Nonsi play and the Mahatama play]. Bangkok: Kurusapa Business Organization.
Vajiravudh (Rama VI), H.R.M. (2012). The James Wilson play. In Khadi rahat Phrabatsomdet PhraMongkutklaochaoyuhua [Crime fictions by King Rama VI] (p. 176-275). Sujjapan, R.(ed.). Bangkok: Siam.
Vajiravudh (Rama VI), H.R.M. (2014). Thamma thamma songkhram Thamma michai Bot lakhon ram rueang Thao saen pom lae Bot lakhon duekdamban rueang Thao saen pom [The Fight for Righteousness play, The Triumph of Right play, and the Thao saen pom
plays]. (3rd ed.). Bangkok: Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel.
Vajiravudh (Rama VI), H.R.M. (2017). The king’s opinion on maintaining Siam neutrality during World War I. In 100 pi songkhram lok khrang thi 1: phra ratchaniphon an nueang duai ngan phra ratcha songkhram na thawip Europe lem 4 [100 years World War I: the
works of King Vajiravudh concerning World War I, Volume 4] (pp. 367-377). Siripai, S. (ed.). Bangkok: King Vajiravudh Memorial Foundation.
Watthanakul, T. (1976). Political Concept in Plays by King Ram VI. [Master’s thesis, Srinakharinwirot University]. https://elib.swu.ac.th/book-detail/165
Wingwon, S. (2012). Wannakhadi kansadaeng [Performance literature]. (2nd ed.). Bangkok: Department of literature and Research Committees, Faculty of Humanities, Kasetsart University.