লোককথায় নারীর অবস্থান : ‘ঠাকুরমার ঝুলি’-র আলোকে বিশ্লেষণ/ The Status of Women in Folklore: An Analysis in the Light of ‘Thakurmar Jhuli’

Abstract

Thakurmar Jhuli (1907), compiled by Dakshinaranjan Mitra Majumdar (1877–1956), is a timeless work of Bengali literature and an invaluable repository of traditional Bengali folktales. The representation of female characters in this collection offers profound insights into the social and cultural realities of Bengali folk society. Within these stories, women are portrayed both as embodiments of affection, sacrifice, and moral virtue and as figures associated with power, jealousy, and fear. In most narratives, the influence of a patriarchal social structure is evident, where male characters occupy positions of authority while female characters are often confined to supportive or subordinate roles. Nevertheless, in several tales, women demonstrate intelligence, wisdom, and strategic agency in overcoming challenges, revealing their inherent strength and capability. Characters such as stepmothers and ogresses reflect prevailing negative stereotypes and fear-based perceptions of women within society. In contrast, figures such as princesses and mothers represent socially constructed ideals of femininity. Thus, the female characters in Thakurmar Jhuli are not merely components of the narrative; they serve as subtle reflections of the values, gender perceptions, and cultural mentality of the folk community. This study reveals that women in the text- whether as mothers, princesses, stepmothers, or ogresses- are presented in diverse and multidimensional forms, carrying a wide range of symbolic meanings within the realm of folk imagination. Therefore, the primary objective of this research is to analyze the social and cultural position of female characters in Thakurmar Jhuli.