Comparative Analysis between Thai Novel Nakee and Chinese Legend White Snake

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to analyze the similarities and differences between the two literatures: Nakhee and the White Snake, in terms of literary structure, including plots, themes, characters, and habits of the heroines, and to investigate the belief systems found in the two literatures, which included the beliefs about snakes in Thai and Chinese societies, previous lives and rebirth, love across dimensions and love between a man and a snake, and the law of action in Buddhism. The research results were as follows:

The plots, themes, characters and habits of the heroines in the two literatureswere both similar and different. The opening of the two literatures started with the backgrounds of the two heroines. Major storylines were the same, but the endings were different. The themes were the same, which were about the love between humans and snakes and the belief in the law of action or karma. Additionally, the sub-theme of Nakheewas about the love of a mother toward her child, while that of the White Snake was about the love of a child toward her mother. The characters in the literatureswere the same, with the hero being a human being and the heroine being a snake. The main characters were divided into two types: the good and the villain. There were more villains in Nakhee than in the White Snake. The habits of the two heroines were both good and bad.

The investigation on the beliefs in the two literatures revealed that snakes represented venom and monsters, being detested, socially unacceptable and low. They were unable to live with human beings because society had classes and the different were hunted for. Human societies classify itsmembers into high and low, and they did not inhabit together. Social violators were different and hunted by the majority. Therefore, love of the two heroines was not fulfilled. Moreover, the two literatures also focused on the beliefs in previous lives, rebirth and the law of action. It was reflected that sentient beings were subject to the cycle of rebirth. Consequences of an action brought about rebirths. Good deeds were rewarded and bad deeds were punished. An actor was the recipient of his/her own action.