miss Nattida Siriprasert Nang Lumhub in The Performance of Ngoa Paa

Abstract

This article aims to study the history, characteristics of the character, and the role of “Lum Hub” in The Performance (Romance of the Sakai) as she is a significant character in the development of the story. The play Ngoa Paa is a royal dramatic composition written by His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). It differs from typical plays that were commonly favored because the characters in the story belong to the ethnic group Sakai and the story concludes in a tragic manner. Lum Hub is the daughter of Mr. Hoy and Mrs. Tong Yip with a younger brother named Mai Pai. She has a delicate beauty, a gentle disposition, modesty, gratitude, and a single-minded devotion. She is also intelligent and resourceful. Her role in the play Ngoa Paa is portrayed in three parts: 1) Introduction: In the beginning, Lum Hub is introduced as a young woman in the Sakai community, known for her beauty and adherence to the customs of the Sakai people, making her the object of affection for a Sakai young man. This part of the play also highlights the sibling love between Lum Hub and her younger brother. 2) Wedding Scene: Lum Hub plays the role of a bride and a daughter, fulfilling her duty to marry Hanao according to her parents' wishes, even though she is not willing. 3) Love Triangle: Lum Hub portrays the role of a virtuous wife who remains faithful to her husband and sacrifices her own life to preserve the sanctity of her love. This ultimately leads to the tragic ending of the story. Lum Hub is depicted as a woman of both physical and moral beauty, and her various roles in the play collectively embody the female protagonist essence of the story Ngoa Paa.