목타르 루비스의 소설 작품 「호랑이! 호랑이!」 에 반영된 인물상 연구

Abstract

ML’s novels normally deal with the meaning of the independence struggle and freedom of human being, setting in cities before and after independence. However, his novel 「Tiger!-Tiger!”」 is the only one that depicts the critical awareness of human conscience, sense of guilt, and hypocrisy through various characters, setting in a rural village and jungle after independence. First, Wak Katok is known as a respected teacher and leader in rural villages and pine resin extraction groups, but it is revealed through Balam’s confession that he killed Sarib, who fought against Dutch colonial authority and drown him in a well as well as killed Deman’s family in order to cover up the raping of Deman’s wife. Wak Katok is finally proved a weak character who cannot overcome extreme excitement, fear, and horror as his ‘hidden’ mask is removed through confession. Moreover, Wak Katok becomes a typical example of a hypocritical character who only cares about his own safety when his colleagues become victims of a tiger attack. Second, Balaam joined the struggle against forced tax collection and oppression by the Netherlands colonial authority in 1926. He witnessed Wak Katok’s misdeeds and crimes during the struggle, but showed cowardice to close his eyes for his safety. However, Balaam is a volunteer who become a sacrifice to a tiger in order to escape from the guilt of the past. Meanwhile, Mr. Haji (Pak Haji) is an individualistic character who disliked meddling in other’s affairs and conversely did not like others interfering in his own affairs, have experienced a exhausted and lonely life abroad. However, he converted into an altruistic figure after he witnessed Buyung’s courage in taking risks and saving him from a poisonous snake. Third, Buyung is the symbol of a young man with preparedness, courage, and a spirit of sacrifice even at the crossroads of life and death, where the hunter and the prey are swapped in an instant. He always prepares for upcoming danger, maintaining his firearm in order to shoot at any time. He also shows courage by taking the lead in tiger hunting whenever his colleagues are sacrificed. Buyung is the symbol character of a young leader that he has the humanity saving Siti Rubiya from Wak Hitam’s abuse, the sacrificial spirit to risk his own life saving Mr. Haji from a critical situation, and the courage to suggest to Wak Katok going to rescue Sutan when he hears his screams. ML conveys to readers the message of restoration of humanity through confession of sense of guilt which is hidden inside a human and the nature of a tiger. While Wak Katok, the leader of the old generation, is a hypocritical character who pursues his own safety, respect, honor, and authority, by hiding his misdeeds and crimes, Buyung, the new generation figure, is a person who pursues the spirit of courage and sacrifice that practices the safety, love, and consideration for his colleagues. In conclusion, this novel confirms the courage and necessity of opposing the absurd human power and hypocrisy that is prevalent in Indonesian society not only in the past but also in the present through the consciousness, attitude, and actions of various characters.