REPRESENTATIONS OF WOMEN IN ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVELS BY PONGWUT RUJIRACHAKORN

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the representation of women in ten Romantic Suspense novels by Pongwut Rujirachakorn, employing the concept of “representation” as the main theoretical framework. The study utilizes textual analysis and presents the results in a descriptive-analytical manner.

The findings reveal that the novels depict women as modern individuals who refuse to succumb to fate but are capable of determining their own life paths through competence, responsibility, and intelligence. Additionally, the narrator’s language effectively conveys the characters’ fear, hope, tenderness, and determination. The representations can be categorized as follows: 1) Strong-willed women those who can control their emotions, remain composed. 2​) Courageous women those who, despite being afraid, dare to make decisions and face danger resolutely. 3)Knowledgeable and capable women those with education and stable careers. 4) Independent women those who make decisions without waiting for help. 5) Gentl eand compassionate women those who understand others even in times of pain. The study reveals that Pongwut Rujirachakorn’s Romantic Suspense novels construct a new representation of Thai women—one that harmoniously combines “love” and “courage” in a multidimensional way. This reflects contemporary feminist perspectives and provides a foundation for further studies on the development of women’s consciousness and gender roles in modern Thai romantic-thriller literature.