Proceedings of the International Seminar on Recent Language, Literature, and Local Cultural Studies (BASA 2018)

Ecocriticism: Javanese Cosmology and Ecoethic in Tetralogy Romance by Ki Padmasusastra

Authors
Onok Yayang Pamungkas, Sahid Teguh Widodo, Suyitno Suyitno, Suwardi Endraswara
Corresponding Author
Onok Yayang Pamungkas
Available Online November 2018.
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/).

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the International Seminar on Recent Language, Literature, and Local Cultural Studies (BASA 2018)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
November 2018
ISBN
978-9462-52-614-3
ISSN
2352-5398
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  -