Ecocriticism: Javanese Cosmology and Ecoethic in Tetralogy Romance by Ki Padmasusastra
- Keywords
- Ecocriticism; eco-ethical; Javanese cosmology; environmental; Ki Padmasusastra
- Abstract
This study discusses the vision of Javanese cosmology and ecoethic awareness (environmental ethics) in the romance Tetralogy by Ki Padmasusastra. The research analysis will focus on the concept of Javanese cosmology and ecoethic awareness as one component of Ecocriticism which investigates relations between human, culture and nature. The purpose of this paper is to see the importance of philosophical considerations of a writer to provide insight about environmental ethics. This study uses the theoretical framework of Ecocriticism, Javanese cosmology, and environmental ethics to observe interrelated ethics between humans and non-humans. This study focuses on literary content that reflects Javanese philosophy, ethical sense, and forms a sense of human responsibility to nature. The results of the study show the ideology of the author who seeks to build a framework of philosophy (Javanese cosmology) thematically. Through the plot and characteristics of the characters, the romance implicitly and explicitly shows ethical feelings towards all elements of nature, which is oriented towards harmonization between humans and non-humans. The symbolic meaning of Javanese literature in the romance seems very strong and emphasizes philosophical aspects. There is a spiritual effort which the author wants to convey to the reader regarding the noble value of Javanese culture. The four elements of nature (wind, water, fire, and earth) which are packaged in literary aesthetics are symbols of the little universe (microcosm) and the big universe (macrocosm). The two illustrate the interrelated relationship between nature, human beings, and God that must be maintained in harmony, with the aim to memayu hayuning bawana or "beautify the beauty of the world", with the hope that a perfect condition of gemah ripah loh jinawi 'serene, prosperous and fertile land' can be created. What in many contemplation of Ki Padmasusastra is an attempt to give meaning of life with all its manifestations; human being with its ultimate goal, relationships between the materials with the spiritual, the temporary with the eternal, and what is human role in the universe. Through the roots of Javanese cosmology which is centred on the unity of existence, it is hoped that the human position in the universe can be comprehensively understood. This understanding leads humans to an appreciative attitude towards nature, a catalyst for changing perspectives which in turn leads to changes in their behaviour towards the environment. A lifestyle that reflects an awareness of the reciprocal relationship and mutual acceptance between the anthropological world and the cosmos at large. Thus, humans will find the right role for themselves in the universe, so that interaction between humans and nature can be ethically accounted for.
- Copyright
- © 2018, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.
- Open Access
- This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).
Cite this article
TY - CONF AU - Onok Yayang Pamungkas AU - Sahid Teguh Widodo AU - Suyitno Suyitno AU - Suwardi Endraswara PY - 2018/11 DA - 2018/11 TI - Ecocriticism: Javanese Cosmology and Ecoethic in Tetralogy Romance by Ki Padmasusastra BT - Proceedings of the International Seminar on Recent Language, Literature, and Local Cultural Studies (BASA 2018) PB - Atlantis Press SP - 430 EP - 439 SN - 2352-5398 UR - https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/25906118 ID - Pamungkas2018/11 ER -