สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand ™“«µà “ߪ√–‡∑»„π‡√◊Ë Õßæ√–Õ¿— ¬¡≥’ ¢Õß ÿ π∑√¿Ÿà Vol. 32 No. 2 Apr.-Jun. 2007 394 Abstract Foreign Characters in Sunthon Phu’s Phra Aphai Mani Srisurang Poolthupya Fellow of the Academy of Arts, The Royal Institute, Thailand The poetic tale of Phra Aphai Mani by Sunthon Phu has a great number of foreign characters both Asians and Europeans woven into the story. The tale gives accounts beyond the realm of Thai people. It covers people from China, Vietnam, Malaya, Indonesia, Burma, India, Lanka and Europe. The Europeans are mostly English, French and Dutch who already established their power in India and Southeast Asia during Sunthon Phu’s time. The poet’s knowledge about these people was very up-to-date for his time. Sunthon Phu was much aware of the world around him and, combined with his rich imagination, created his best work Phra Aphai Mani, an immortal epic poem of Thailand. Key words : foreign characters, Phra Aphai Mani