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Para Priyayi (The Priyayi) is a novel by Umar Kayam, a prominent Indonesian writer, lecturer, and actor. The novel tells the story of Soedarsono, a young man from a peasant family who becomes a priyayi, a member of the Javanese aristocracy, thanks to the patronage of a local official. The novel follows his life and the lives of his children and grandchildren, as they navigate the changing political and social landscapes of Indonesia from the colonial era to the post-independence period. The novel explores the themes of identity, class, culture, tradition, and modernity, as well as the conflicts and contradictions that arise from them.
The novel is divided into two parts: the first part focuses on Soedarsono’s rise from a humble background to a respected position in the bureaucracy, and the second part depicts the struggles and dilemmas of his descendants, who have to cope with the challenges of living in a modern and diverse society. The novel is rich in historical and cultural details, as it portrays the various aspects of Javanese life, such as the rituals, ceremonies, customs, values, and beliefs of the priyayi class. The novel also depicts the historical events and movements that shaped Indonesia’s history, such as the Japanese occupation, the independence war, the communist uprising, the Sukarno era, and the Suharto regime.
The novel’s plot is engaging and captivating, as it intertwines the personal and the political, the individual and the collective, and the past and the present. The novel’s character development is also impressive, as it shows the complex and dynamic personalities of the main and supporting characters, as well as their motivations, conflicts, and transformations. The novel’s writing style is elegant and eloquent, as it combines the formal and the colloquial, the literary and the vernacular, and the Indonesian and the Javanese languages. The novel’s overall impact is profound and powerful, as it offers a nuanced and insightful perspective on the Indonesian society and history, as well as the human condition and experience.
The novel’s strengths include its realistic and vivid portrayal of the Javanese culture and history, its compelling and multifaceted characters, its graceful and expressive language, and its thoughtful and critical analysis of the themes and issues. The novel’s weaknesses include its lengthy and dense narration, its slow and uneven pacing, its complex and confusing structure, and its ambiguous and open-ended conclusion. The novel’s readability is moderate, as it requires some background knowledge and familiarity with the Indonesian context and terminology, as well as some patience and concentration to follow the plot and the characters.
In conclusion, Para Priyayi is a novel that deserves to be read and appreciated by anyone who is interested in the Indonesian literature and culture, as well as the universal themes of identity, class, culture, tradition, and modernity. The novel is a masterpiece of Umar Kayam, who skillfully and beautifully crafted a novel that is both historical and contemporary, both local and global, and both specific and universal.
The novel is a valuable and meaningful contribution to the Indonesian and world literature, as well as a reflection and a critique of the Indonesian and human society.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading novels that are rich in content, character, and style, and that challenge and inspire the reader to think and feel deeply.
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