A Green Bird with a Red Neck – Issues in Women's Life in the Short Stories

Abstract

Literature in the form of short stories captures the social issues and events of the day. Tamil short story writers use their writing to reflect on the Tamil culture and way of life. Feminist author Ambai has demonstrated how female characters can successfully handle issues in their lives. In Ambai's short stories, a girl who has been terrified for a very long time and unable to run by herself can be seen strolling as an innovator. Her short story, "A Green Bird with a Red Neck," explores a woman's life struggles and her love for her father. The collection of short stories "Payanam 21" demonstrates how determined women who wish to be married again must be to overcome obstacles at home and in society. The short story "The City that Rises from the Ashes" helps the reader to understand the sorrow of women who work despite age and retirement restrictions. Next, in the short story 'A Green Bird with a Red Neck', the author reveals that women abandoned by their husbands are determined to raise their children on their own. The short story "Veethal" depicts the suffering endured by mothers whose children live abroad. Another short story, 'Poikai' reveals that men cannot live a woman's life, even for a single day. Apart from these, the lives of economically backward women and the hardships faced by women in other countries can be seen in the short stories. Ambai's collection of short stories, "A Green Bird with a Red Neck," demonstrates how female characters bravely handle a variety of life issues. It has received the Best Book Award in Tamil for 2021. The purpose of this article is to explore the lives and problems of diverse women that are told in the thirteen short stories in this book.