The development of roles and interaction of parents with sons in family novels from 1927-2017: In the case of parenting children

Abstract

This article is part of a Ph.D. thesis in Doctor of Arts Program in Thai, Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University. The purpose of this study was to explore the development of the role and interaction of parents with sons in Thai novels. This is one of the objectives in Item 1 aiming to study the development of roles and interaction of male and female protagonists in Thai novels between 1927 and 2017. The results of the research showed that, regarding parenting (i.e., Item 1.1 teaching their sons to behave appropriately with family status), from 1927-1966, parents were strict in parenting in order to nurture their sons to be perfect. From 1967-1976, parents taught their sons to be good people and study hard in order to have a stable career. From 1977-1996, parents focused on education of their sons and also encouraged them to take examinations for government work. From 1997-2006, for the family with a father who had a disability in raising his son, a mother would be primarily responsible for taking care of the sons. From 2007-2017, fathers focused mainly on earning a lot of money and raised their sons without teaching them to place importance on conscience. Regarding Item 1.2 instilling good values, from 1927-1966, parents had similar values ​​in instilling their sons to have dignity, preserve the honor of a man, and adhere to the promise. From 1967-1976, parents instilled value in education and encourage their sons to be educated according to their status. From 1977-1986, parents instilled good values ​​for their sons by adapting their life experiences to teaching. From 1987-1996, fathers instilled values ​​in the right to freedom of life. From 1997-2006, fathers neglected to raise their sons, so mothers would help to refine the minds and teach their sons reasonably. Regarding Item 1.3 teaching not to behave immorally. From 1927-1936, parents taught their sons by focusing on moral principles, not telling a lie, and being honest. From 1937-1946, it was found that parents taught their sons not to behave out of good traditions. From 1957-1966, parents taught their sons to obey and follow the guidelines set by parents. From 1967-1976, parents taught their sons to be proud of self-reliance in good faith. From 1977-1996, it was found that parents taught their sons to be responsible for what they did wrong. From 1997-2006, parents taught their sons to solve their life problems reasonably until the best solution was found. From 2007-2017, parents taught their sons to be responsible for acts of sons that conflicted with morality. Regarding Item 1.4 that parents did not raise their sons, it was found that, in the novels from 1987-1996, parents lacked the potential to raise their sons; as a result, their sons lacked someone to rely on mentally.