Myth of Chastity as a Patricentric Clutch on Women: A Study on Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s Chemmeen

Abstract

Myths, folklores and legends root in depth through the tropical Malabar Coast of Kerala. Both nature and mystical elements always find its place in the stories that Kerala has to offer us. Even in the birth of the land, Kerala is rooted in many mythological stories among which the myth associated with Parasurama is considered as the most authentic one. As per the myths Parasurama created Kerala by throwing his axe from Gokarn, in Karnataka. This one myth is enough to portray how this land is deeply inflicted by myths and continues to lives in a mythological world. The land and people of Kerala is still governed by age old customs, traditions and rituals. Unfortunately the society still continues to be patriarchal and so the myths are often leading to the oppression and subjugation of women. The lives of women are governed and ruled by the frames and norms of morality that are being created by the patriarchal society. Chastity is one such norm created by the androcentric society and it always remains the yardstick or a tool to measure the femininity of women. The paper studies how the sanctity of women is evaluated exercising the myth of chastity in Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s Chemmeen.