CONTRADICTORY TRANSFORMATION OF AMBA NOVEL: CRITICAL RESPONSE WITH INTERTEXTUALITY APPROACH

Abstract

Amba, a novel written by Laksmi Pamuntjak, is one of the leading works in Indonesian literature and is classified as a world-class novel. From its title, characters involved, theme and story ideas, as well as excerpts taken from Udyoga Parva at the beginning of each chapter, it can be concluded that Amba is a transformation of Mahabharata, a great and famous story. What is transformed? What are the underlying motif and ideology for the transformation? And what are their effects? Those three questions are the focus of this research. The study was conducted using intertextuality approach (comparison technique) and critical response perspective, which states that no text is neutral; each text has a certain tendency – certain ideologies exposed behind the text. Research findings indicate that it is the intrinsic element that is absorbed by the novel. The transformation is a contradictory transformation with the perspective of emancipation. The author rejects the weak-willed Amba in the story of Bhisma Parwa, and gives birth to a tough, brave, and rational Amba in her novel. The contradictory transformation gives birth to a great work that has the same theme, but different in the ways of cultivating the story and the portrayal of women.

Keywords: contradictory transformation, novel amba, critical response, intertextuality approach, literature

Cite as: Priyatni, E.T. (2016). Contradictory transformation of Amba novel: Critical response with intertextuality approach. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 1(1), 46-59.  http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol1iss1pp46-59