பக்கம்:ஆய்வுக் கோவை.pdf/121

men characters, Tamil literary convention appears to differ widely srom the Western Literary Convention, regarding its Ntandards of the women characters. Tholka piyar’s " ideas of women characters, seem to be very chchanting and interesting. He lays down chastity, love, good discipline, softness, patience, wholesomeness, hospitality, and convein for the welfare of the near and dear as the main traits of the women characters. The Western scholar on the other hand secms to hold an entirely different opinion in this regard. It is Aristotle’s “ calm dictum that “Even a woman may be μood'. However his ideas are grossly violated by Shakespeare whose character sketches of Ophelia, Cordelia, Mirandah, Calpurnia, Rosalind, Cymbaline, Portia, etc. are the very embodiments of virtue, wisdom and grace. These immortal literary characters first take shape in the imagination of the poet. The ‘character is first seen in imagination and then elaborated, discussed and criticised by the intellect” says Frederic Clarke Prescott. In Tamil literature the account of womgn in the Akam poetry like Kurunthohai, Akanānuuru, Iingurunuuru with their earnest longing for the company and comradeship of their respective partners and the valient heroes of the Puram poetry like Puraná nuuru, Pattinapālai, and Mathuraika nchi, etc., make very interesting reading. Thanks to the skill and enterprise of the poets, we have a vast multitude of valient heros and virtuous heroines who had inspired our fore-fathers and who still continue to inspire the present generations. Not only do these characters inspire our minds; but they impart wisdom and skill whenever necessary, instruct and enchant us in times of nced. They are our true and honourable friends, whom we can always approach whenever necessary without any introduction 113