DISCOURSE ON WOMEN IN THE HISTORICAL NOVEL TU DU THAI HAU BY TRAN THUY MAI

DOI: 10.18173/2354–1067.2025–0004

Abstract

In the the 21st century, Vietnamese literature has witnessed the emergence of female writers whose works show unique identities, contributing significantly to the strong transformation of literary landscape. The appearance of female writers in the novel genre, especially historical novels, with Tu Du Thai Hau by Tran Thuy Mai as a notable case, has contributed to bringing issues related to women to the center of literary discourse. This article, utilizing discourse theory and feminist criticism, points out issues related to women in many aspects: discourses on the power and position of women in monarchical society, discourses on love and marriage, the truth discourse as the antithesis and reinterpretation of issues related to women. This study shows that Tran Thuy Mai understands the pain of women and at the same time interprets issues that have not been clarified in official history from other perspectives. This approach affirms the literary value of the novels by Tran Thuy Mai and the unique features in her discourse on women.