Tradition, Marriage, and Women's Autonomy in Phka Srapoun: A Critical Study of Khmer Society

Abstract

This article analyzes tradition, marriage, and women's autonomy in Nou Hach's Khmer novel Phka Srapoun (The Wilted Flower). Using qualitative literary interpretation informed by feminist criticism and the concept of agency, it examines parental authority, economic status, and the limited decision-making power of the heroine, Vitheavy. The argument is that the novel's tragedy cannot be reduced to disappointed romance: it emerges from the interaction of family control, class expectations, and constrained consent. The article distinguishes criticism of coercive practices from an indiscriminate rejection of Khmer traditions and considers the complex role of the heroine's mother. It concludes that the novel provides a productive literary context for debating family responsibility, gender justice, and personal choice. As a draft, its close-reading claims require checking against the exact Khmer edition before submission.

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