Theme Essay

THE ASSIGNMENT OF EXPLORING DRAMA Rendra’s Magic in Instilling a Sense of Striving to The Drama of Suku Naga’s Struggle

Lecturer : Ms. Nia Nafisah, S.S, M, Pd.

Written by: Alifa Binta S(0606916) Emalia

(0606364)

Ina Nurindah

(0606389)

Melysa Rachmat (0606422)

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ART INDONESIA UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION 2009 Rendra was a playwright who completed his bachelor degree at Gajah Mada University majoring in English literature and he continued his master degree in America. He returned to his homeland with a wide knowledge about the drama that he tried to influence the drama in Indonesia. Political theme is a theme that is always carried by him and is often used to criticize the ruling government. One of Rendra dramas that have special attention from the government of his day is The Story of The Fight of Naga Ethnic. The Story of The Fight of Naga Ethnic is one of Rendra’s dramas which contain the art criticism of how the Naga villagers struggle against the Astinam government’s power cooperated with investors from abroad. The government thinks that this cooperation will give them benefit to begin the modernization. With no consideration of what are the bad and the goodness of the modernization as the foreign investors will have their way to exploit Indonesia's natural wealth. The government works with foreign investors by taking into account only their individual’s advantage even if it may destroy the natural ecology and the cultural values. Three characters namely Abivara, Astina Superiors, and Carlos are appeared in the drama to strengthen the theme of The Story of Naga Ethnic’s Fight which is the integrity against the modernity forced by more powerful party. Abivara is the son of the village leader which has finished his study abroad. He appears to be an ambitious and high spirit character. He comes with a lot of desires to develop his village but not in a way like Astinam government proposed. He wants to make Naga village more prosperous by maintaining the ancestor’s heritage, which is portrayed from what his saying:

` From the above utterance, we are able to see that Abivara put a high value to his village. He emphasizes how the Naga villagers must have a determined point of view of their beloved village. What Abivara has said is strengthened by Abivasam, the father of Abivara, which makes a meaning of how the villagers should manage their land that land is basic needs in which the proprietary has to be regulated and supervised by the village will be defended as their integrity to survive their viability. Inversely proportional to the Astina government which believes that the integrity is only able to be built by the advancement of any aspect in life in what the government is always praising about; it is “pembangunan-development”. Astinam superiors are people who have more authority of the country. Contrast with Abivara, Astinam superiors view the development as the huge changes in many aspects of lives include the changing from farming era to age industry as proved in the following statement:

This statement which is from Sri Ratu shows how Astinam superiors are eager to lead the advance to their country by doing many less considerate actions as what so called as modernity. They have an ulterior motive to earn money as much as possible for their own advantage. They play money politics to gain luxury of life without thinking of the equality of social life. It is also appeared in how they are

willing to build a very big hospital that will be exclusively limited for rich people.

As seen from the statement above, the build of hospital indicates that they ignore the social imbalance effect that may occur in the country as they do not mention that poor people are able to be facilitated. Carlos, the character who serves as a reporter to voice the people's hearts Naga village in fighting their desire to not suffer in their own country. And this is Carlos-rot decay exposes the authorities in cooperation Astinam on exploitation of natural resources with the foreign investment. So that, they plan to suppress the people including the people of Naga village can be proved by Carlos interference. Carlos represents the main actual role of media which is used to portray, to expose and to give rhetorical view shift through influence right directed to the foreign parliament and countrymen who take more attention to the issue.

It is markedly seen from the Carlos utterances that he attempts to open the

people’s mind about what actually happen in the other side of globalization in which unselectively poisons the government’s view about modernization. Carlos plays his role in the media to integrate the open-minded people to go straight against the modernity forced by the powerful party. In conclusion, Rendra always takes a political theme in every work of his plays. It is proved in the drama of this struggle of Suku Naga. This drama directed focus to the decays done by the authorities solely for the money without thinking about the fate of their people.