Moral Literature in Tamil on the Qualities of Coyness and Chastity of Women

Abstract

A woman from birth to death lives her life for the welfare of others instead of living for herself. For such a woman in the ancient times, many titles such as a woman filled with fear, modesty bordering on ignorance, and Coyness have been assigned to such a woman. The restrictions that she has to travel throughout her life through the titles laid down in such a way are pointed out in a gentle and patriarchal way. In ancient period, women are forced in various ways to live a slave lifestyle. Those who deviate slightly from these restrictions are reprimanded as deviant. Since ancient times, the human society had the lofty idea that human beings should led a virtuous life. Such status is considered as a tool to destroy women's ability to assimilate her knowledge. Chastity and coyness are common to the human race, but society insists that it belongs only to the female clan and being with chastity and coyness will bring pride to women. This article examines chastity and coyness which are the two qualities among four types of qualities in moral literature.