Art Original

Azab dan Sengsara

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"A pioneering masterpiece of modern Indonesian literature that exposes the devastating human cost of rigid customs, forced marriages, and social greed."

Azab dan Sengsara is a foundational work in modern Indonesian literature, widely celebrated as the novel that launched the realist tradition in the archipelago. Set in the Sipirok region of Batak, North Sumatra, the story chronicles the tragic romance between two young lovers, Mariamin and Aminu'u. Despite their deep mutual affection and shared dreams, their path to happiness is violently derailed by the rigid constraints of traditional customs (adat) and the destructive pride of social status.

When Aminu'u’s family falls into poverty, Mariamin is deemed an unsuitable match by his status-conscious father. Aminu'u is forced to move to Batavia (Jakarta) to find work, leaving Mariamin behind. In his absence, and driven by financial desperation and family pressure, Mariamin is forced into an arranged marriage with a wealthy but abusive man named Kasibun. What follows is a heartbreaking sequence of betrayal, physical and psychological torment, and societal rejection, culminating in a tragic end that highlights the helplessness of women within the patriarchal structures of the era.

Beyond its melancholic narrative, Merari Siregar’s novel serves as a sharp socio-cultural critique of early 20th-century Indonesian society. It boldly addresses the flaws of forced marriage, the corruption born of greed, and the systemic oppression of women under the guise of tradition.

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Availability

Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

4.810.0008.B.U

Publisher

Jakarta : BALAI PUSTAKA., 2013

Collation

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Language

Indonesia

ISBN/ISSN

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Classification

810

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

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Subject(s)

Kesusastraan Indonesia

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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