Comparison Essay : Between Education and Feminism

Between Education and Feminism
by Fadhila Eka Ratnasari
209221416623

Several months after his debut novel series, Laskar Pelangi, was published; Andrea Hirata soon published Padang Bulan series. People expect that the second novel series will be as popular as the previous one. It is because they consider that both novel series are very similar in almost every aspect. Beside the same progressive plot, both novel series also set on the amazing Belitong Island. Only a few people understand that those two novel series are clearly different due to several reasons. If you give a very close attention, you will see that those two novel series have their own characteristics. I can say that Laskar Pelangi and Padang Bulan series are different with respect to the story theme, point of view, and language use. If you are a fan of Andrea Hirata, those features will lead you to a better understanding of Laskar Pelangi and Padang Bulan.

First of all, Laskar Pelangi and Padang Bulan series are different in term of their story theme. Laskar Pelangi is recognized as a fabulous tale since it tells an inspiring story of education. The story ensures us that education is everyone’s right and has nothing to do with poverty. In Laskar Pelangi, you will see that whether you are poor or not, you will always get access to education. Unlike Laskar Pelangi, Padang Bulan series tells us about how to pursue dreams in another way. By emphasizing feminism issue, Padang Bulan tells about someone who fights against patriarchal domination. Andrea Hirata writes that poor society of Belitong commonly underestimates women. That is why Andrea Hirata creates a character who tries to strengthen the women position in Belitong society. Indeed, Laskar Pelangi and Padang Bulan tell a story about Belitong society in two different major themes : education and feminism.

Laskar Pelangi and Padang Bulan series also differ in term of point of view. Laskar Pelangi brings the reader into the story by first point of view. The narrator of the story in Laskar Pelangi is the main character himself. The four books of Laskar Pelangi focuses on how the main character, Ikal, pursues his dreams until he gets scholarship to study in Sorbonne University. By first point of view, Laskar Pelangi subjectively leads the readers into the main character’s feelings. It is subjective because the way the narrator tells the story in Laskar Pelangi is influenced by his own view and his personal value about every single thing. In contrast, Padang Bulan series is told by third point of view. The narrator of this story –again, it is Ikal– is not the main character. Maryamah, the main character of Padang Bulan series, is told as a tough woman who fights against male domination in Belitong society. By using the third point of view, the narrator objectively guides the readers to guess Maryamah’s feelings about her life. It is objective because the way the narrator tells the story in Padang Bulan is not influenced by any personal value. At a first glance, both novel series are nearly the same since they state Ikal as the narrator. Actually, Padang Bulan series only tell about Maryamah’s life. That is why I can say that Laskar Pelangi and Padang Bulan series are not similar since they use the different point of view.

Lastly, we have to consider about the different language use in Laskar Pelangi and Padang Bulan series, especially in term of figurative language. In Laskar Pelangi, Andrea Hirata mostly uses metaphor. For example, because of his passionate feeling to A Ling, Andrea Hirata directly compares her to Michelle Yeoh, a famous Asian actress. He also compares his old school building with a great architecture. Sometimes, Andrea Hirata uses scientific language to emphasize the nature of education in the story. Whereas, in Padang Bulan series, Andrea Hirata uses a language that is much simpler. He rarely uses figurative language because he wants to emphasize the simplicity of the main character in Padang Bulan. Once, he uses irony to express that tin miner is a part of Belitong culture. Actually, he only wants to emphasize the hard life of tin miner by stating the opposite meaning. Considering the different language use in those two novel series, you can see that it is caused by the different story themes in Laskar Pelangi and Padang Bulan.

In accordance with those features of Laskar Pelangi and Padang Bulas series, I can not decide which one is better. Both novel series are a great story with their own specialty, in term of the story themes, point of view, and language use. By comparing those two novel series, hopefully, you will have a clear understanding of Laskar Pelangi and Padang Bulan.