RESISTANCE EFFORTS TOWARDS THE REPRESSIVE REGIME THROUGH DRAMA LITERATURE: REVIEW ON RIANTIARNO’S OPERA KECOA AND EMHA AINUN’S PERAHU RETAK

Abstract

This paper aims to show the resistance effort towards the authorities. The analysis focuses on the events, scenes, sentences, and expressions which indicate the resistance efforts. The dramas used as data in this research are titled Opera Kecoa ‘The Cockroach Opera’ (1985) by Riantiarno and Perahu Retak ‘The Cracked Boat’ (1992) by Emha Ainun Najib. Both dramas were published during the New Order regime when the freedom of speech and expression was restricted. Resistance towards that established structure was mostly done by authors. This action is a kind of effort to make us realized that we were actually being oppressed but did not realize it. The social criticism delivered through the drama, as well as the form of art, of course, cannot be adequately conveyed because the authors are aware of the situation of the government. Hereafter, the communication system is changed in such a way so that the messages contained in the drama can be understood by the audiences or the readers. This awareness effort also becomes the controller for the implementation of the social system. The data are analyzed by using the new historicism approach. The results showed that the history of a nation can be read through literary works. New Historicism believes that there is always a connection between text (literature) and history. This thought gives the perspective that “historical reality” is no longer singular or absolute, but also can be various versions with many points of view. In this context, literary texts which reflected the history can be positioned as a reading on history from the different versions. The research results indicate that there are always resistance efforts towards the repressive authority with which the delivery methods are done in various ways