கறநதக கடடடககம பண கலசசரக கடடமபபம கடடபபடம / Deconstruction of Kurunthogai on Feminine Cultural Structure and Control

This article explores the status of women in Tamil society by examining the cultural realities depicted in “Kurunthogai” in alignment with the norms outlined in “Tholkappiyam”. While most of the traditional Tamil literature often displays the cultural norms for women, “Kurunthogai” gives a contrasting portrayal. It exhibits instances where women defy conventional practices, putting forward their wishes and emotional autonomy. Through the voices of female characters, the demanding situations show liberty in Tamil culture. Women of Kurunthogai express clear, neutral thoughts by transferring beyond lamentation over their sorrows. They actively pursue their goals and accomplish their goals without male involvement. This representation disrupts the stereotypical image of passive womanhood and gives a nuanced view of the individuality of women in ancient Tamil society. “Tholkappiyam” formalizes the cultural norms and “Kurunthogai” displays the realities and emotional freedom of women. It demonstrates their capacity for self-reliance and empowerment. Through this feminist evaluation, the article highlights the liberty of women's gender roles in early Tamil literature. It reveals that women were not mere creatures to perform patriarchal dictates at those times. They are capable of hard and able to redefine their social roles. Thus, this paper contributes to the broader idea of gender representation in Tamil literary traditions and gives a clear idea of the complicated and dynamic portrayal of women in the classical Tamil text “Kurunthogai.”