Universal Ethics Across Cultures: A Comparative Study of Thirukkural and Shakespeare

Abstract

Thirukkural, authored by the Tamil philosopher Thiruvalluvar (c. 300 BCE–300 CE), stands as a foundational ethical text in Tamil and world literature. Comprising 1,330 couplets, it addresses virtue (Aram), governance and material life (Porul), and love (Inbam). William Shakespeare (1564–1616), writing in Early Modern England, explored comparable ethical and psychological concerns through drama and poetry. Although there is no historical evidence of direct contact between Shakespeare and Tamil literary traditions, comparative literary analysis reveals striking thematic convergences. This study argues that the ethical parallels between Thirukkural and Shakespeare arise from shared humanistic concerns rather than direct influence, reflecting universal moral values across cultures and historical periods.