Subalternity in Kumala Ratih’s Gadis Kretek: Postcolonial Study

Abstract

The tactic of using the might of another nation to subjugate the citizens of a nation is often associated with the colonial era. The impact of colonization on cultures and communities is addressed in post-colonialism. The ideology of postcolonialism arose following mostly to the independent colonized nations with the object of study is everything including aspects that have experienced imperial rule during colonization until its death, as well as various effects related to the former colonies. They are all lower levels of colonial and postcolonial societies with the condition of unemployed, homeless, subsistence farmers, etc. This study aimed to investigate subalternity as a part of post-colonialism in a novel, Gadis Kretek written by Ratih Kumala. This study used qualitative research design with a textual analysis method grounded in postcolonial literary theory. The data was taken from a novel, Ratih Kumala’s Gadis Kretek, written in 2012. Some research procedures was done using several steps; intensive close reading, thematic coding (content analysis), lierary criticism, and historical-contextual research. The results showed that the effects of colonialization and struggles of oppressed subaltern, especially for women. Those are all can be divided into two types subalternity, namely employer-subordinates and women oppression. To sum up, the effects of colonialization comprise fear, depression, and traumatic events. The struggles of oppressed subaltern include defending the right, protection, voicing even not listened, survival by keep working, and forgetting any kinds of effect of colonialization that make sadness.