of pandanus leaves similar to the one she might now be sleeping on if she were at her parents’ home in the village 24.
Mas Nganten sleeps on mattress instead of a woven mat as she used to in the village. This shows different social class she belongs to. She can enjoy a soft
mattress, and she has her servants sleep near her in case Mas Nganten needs something. Living in a high class family also enables her to own jewellery to
wear. “She looked at her necklace, bracelets, and ring, all od them made of gold and studded with gems 45.”
4.1.1 Making Decisions and Choices
Women’s life in Minnesota is just the same as other women on the age. Men rule their lives. Women live as their properties whose feeling and thought are
not considered to exist. As it happens to women, the same thing happens to daughters. Their parents, especially their fathers, decide their lives as women.
Everything is decided and chosen. They may only agree with the decision. Living in a rich family with a high-class social status does not give Lorna
any right to make any decision for herself. It can be seen through the manner of people around her, especially her parents who decide everything for her including
her marriage. As a daughter of a rich man, Lorna cannot marry to anyone out of the social circle or she will take her father’s wealth and position as the risks. It
becomes the reason why her parents choose a certain man for her to marry with. “Mother, I thought you like Taylor.” “I do dear. Your father and I both like
Taylor. As a matter of fact we’ve had frequent discussions what a perfect husband Taylor would be for you.” 59
Taylor DuVal is the son of a rich man in town. He pays a lot attention to Lorna. When Taylor and Lorna get even closer to each other, their parents agree
to marry Lorna to Taylor. Considering the background of Taylor, the marriage between Lorna and Taylor is considered to be beneficial for both families
financially and for the sake friendship of the families. The matchmaking of Lorna and Taylor is different from the general
matchmaking. Lorna will marry someone she already knows, instead of stranger in general matchmaking on the days. This may be potential for helping Lorna to
be even more ready for the marriage. Lorna even likes Taylor and often agrees to spend time with him. “The other night, when you and Taylor came home from the
band concert.”59. She occasionally watches for concert with him, attends the dance party, or goes for just a little walk in town. The friendship of their family
also becomes another consideration for the marriage. …Your marriage to Taylor will put you in a house as grand as our own,
and you’ll move among the cream of society… 202 Lorna’s parents have a hope that if she marries to Taylor, she will get a
good life and belongs to the same social class as her parents. Lorna will leave in a beautiful house. She can also attend for everything she usually attends like
concert, and dance part and any other event for high class society. In short, the marriage is proposed both for the beneficial of Lorna’s family and for the sake of
Lorna’s bright future. “ I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t want to be with him, but I didn’t now
to get out of it. My mother planned the whole evening and I had no choice.”183
The matchmaking takes time for the process. Lorna’s parents, through her mother, often involve Lorna on certain occasion in order to get her closer to
Taylor. They sometimes held a dinner and tennis match with other families including Taylor’s. The sentence above shows us that Lorna is not quite
comfortable with the occasions which are merely objected for her and Taylor. Unfortunately, she has no right to refuse. This shows Lorna’s inferiority where
she cannot refuse and can only follow her parents’ decision. Sometimes, Lorna’s disagreement can be seen through her manner. On a
dance party, when she must be Taylor’s consort, Lorna was involved to a conversation with her father. She mentioned that becoming Taylor’s consort
would not stop her from dancing with another man in the party. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t dance with others Papa” 71. Lorna’s behaviour shows Lorna’s
disagreement to her parents. Lorna likes Taylor and makes friend with him, but it does not mean that she agrees to marry him. She hopes for a chance for her to
choose her own husband which rarely happens to woman on that time. Realizing her daughter’s manner, Gideon Barnett immediately forbids her
to do so. “I don’t want you doing anything that will give Taylor the idea you don’t want to marry him.”71. Lorna’s behaviour may provoke Taylor to think that
Lorna does not want to marry him, so he may cancel the proposal. It means problem for Lorna’s father. He insists that Lorna cannot marry a person out of
their social circle, and he chooses Taylor, so Lorna must marry to Taylor. This fact makes Lorna feels terrible, because she actually loves someone
else. Lorna falls in love to Jens, a kitchen helper, who is a person her parents PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
would not approve. “…Oh, Jens Harken, I love you so much that everything in my life has changed.”187. Jens builds a boat for Gideon Barnett, but he does not
come form the same social circle with Lorna. Once, Lorna tries to tell her parents that she does not love Taylor and that she does not want to marry him, but her
parents remain unchanged. … Now, the matter is settled You’re marrying him in June at whatever
function your mother plans” Lorna stared at him, helpless, angry, her insides trembling. “Papa, please…don’t-“ “The matter is settled, I said”
208 It is tragic that her own parents do not really care about her feeling about
the decision. The right of making the decision and choosing from choices does not belong to Lorna but her father as a man, and as the head of the family. From the
sentence above, we can see how Lorna’s’ father tells her about the marriage. It has been decided and Lorna cannot change that. She is marrying to Taylor. The
marriage has been approved by both families, and Lorna cannot avoid or refuse it. Lorna’s parents do not even want to hear any argument from Lorna. The incident
clearly shows how Lorna’s right, as a woman, to decide her own marriage has been taken off of her. She is not only incapable to make a decision, but she is also
not being asked when the decision is made. Predicting her parents’ disapproval toward her relationship with Jens,
Lorna meets Jens secretly, and keeps the relationship. Until one day, she finds her self carries Jens’ baby. She tells Jens about her pregnancy, and they agree to tell
Lorna’s parents about it. Jens finally comes to Lorna’s parents and proposes her. The proposal, of course, get a disapproval from Lorna’s parents. “Well, it doesn’t
What matters is that you’re not marrying any kitchen handyman, and that’s PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
final”249. Jens even gets fired and has to leave the ho use. He maybe cannot see Lorna anymore while Lorna is forced to leave the town for some time in order to
hide her pregnancy from her father’s colleagues. “Where are we going?” “Where this disgrace can be handled in a discreet
manner.” “Mother, please…where?” “There’s no need for you to know. Just do as I say and be ready. Your sisters and brother will be in the library
to bid you goodbye. They are to be given to understand that you’re going off to school, and that your father pulled plenty of strings to get you there
at this odd time of year, primarily as an assuagement for refusing to let you skip the boat in the regatta next summer.” 273
It is said to Lorna’s brother and sisters that she must go to attend college.
The truth is Lorna is decided to be sent to a catholic abbey of Benedictine nuns. The nuns will take Lorna and give Lorna good care and seclusion, as well as the
help of the good nuns and a doctor when time comes for her to deliver the baby. This decision is clearly made without considering Lorna’s wants and feeling. She
is sent away so she cannot come to the next regatta and make people find out about her pregnancy. It is merely made by her father for the sake of his position.
“ And what about the baby? Will I be allowed to keep it?” “ Keep a bastard? And do what with it?...” 275.
After being sent away, Lorna is forbidden to keep her own child. Having
been forced to deliver the baby out of the house, she must also give her baby to a childless couple who will adopt and take care of the baby. Lorna’s parents do not
want the baby. For Lorna’s father, the baby will bring disgrace and bad luck for the family. It explains why Lorna’s father decided to make Lorna give away the
baby for an adoption, and it is Lorna’s mother’s duty to tell Lorna about it. Lorna cannot keep her own baby even though she, as a woman and a mother, has the
right to do so. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
From the evidences above, I can conclude that, as a woman, Lorna lives as inferior. All of her life is decided by her parents, mostly her father, instead of her
own self. Her inferiority can be seen through her incapability in deciding her own marriage and her own will and also in her incapability in defending her right to
have her baby. In short, Lorna’s life has been chosen and decided, and she has no right to change it or to state her will, her wants, or even her own decision.
What happens to Lorna also happens to Mas Nganten. During the time, in Javanese society, men are considered higher than women. It can be seen on how
man rules on that time. When a decision is needed, it is man who has the right to make one. The same thing happens to Mas Nganten, where she is a woman, and
woman lives under the authority of man. Mas Nganten lives under the authority of her father.
Other than woman nowadays who can choose to whom she will marry to, Mas Nganten has no chance to pick a choice. Her father on behalf of the family
has decided to marry her daughter to a nobleman frrm the city of Rembang. “ The day before, she had been married, in a proxy manner, with a dagger representing
her husband-to-be 4.” Her husband-to-be has never showed himself in the marriage ceremony. He was represented by a dagger. The marriage is based on
Mas Nganten’s parents’ hope that their daughter will get a better life. It shows the difficult situation Mas Nganten must encounter. She had never known her
husband-to-be before, not even heard his name. “”Him?” Who was this man she had been married to? the girl asked herself 7.” The marriage shows how Mas
Nganten is inferior in making her decision about marriage. She must agree to PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
marry a man she never met before. She even had never heard his name. In short, Mas Nganten marries a stranger, and she has no right to refuse or complaint.
Mas Nganten’s condition shows the condition which is encountered by women at that age. It is the duty of men to decide something. Women must follow
the decision, and they are placed as inferior. Even for a marriage, women cannot pick their own choices. They cannot also refuse or complaint. They are inferior
that wome n is positioned as merely an object. The same thing, Mas Nganten’s inferiority in making decision, happens
during her marriage with Bendoro. Mas Nganten’s parents’ hope for her daughter comes true. Mas Nganten gets a much better life. She lives as a high class woman.
However, this change does not bring any significant development on Mas Nganten, because she still cannot state any decision even though she was given
with authority for her household. “The servant repressed a laugh. She looked at her new and very young employer 20.” Mas Nganten has a personal servant who
had become the personal servant of Bendoro’s escorts before Mas Nganten. “For now, it is my duty to take care of you 22.” The servant’s duty is to serve Mas
Nganten and help her whenever she has difficulties in the house. Mas Nganten possesses power to her servant. She is allowed to ask her to do anything she wants
her to do, because the ecistence of this servant is merely to serve and fulfil Mas Nganten’s need. Mas Nganten has the authority to rule her servant. Beside her
authority on her personal servant, Mas Nganten has another authority. When the girl discovered that her wallet was missing, she had never felt
such fear. Without the money in it, which she used to pay the house expenses, how were they going to eat? 107
Mas Nganten has the power to manage the house financial expenses. She is in charge to pay all the house need, including payrolls for servants and
shopping things. She holds the whole money needed to run the household, and she makes the decision on what should be bought and what should be replaced. Mas
Nganten also has the responsibility on Bendoro’s food. She will come to the kitchen every morning, and check whether the food is good, healthy, and tastes
good. This is for Bendoro’s importance. However, having the authority to the house hold does not make Mas Nganten able to make every decision. Her
authority includes only supervision of the kitchen, shopping for food, and serving her husband’s meal. She is still living under her husband’s power.
Mas Nganten’s authority gives a clear description abut women’s authority during the time. They posses power to rule their household only. They can
manage the servants and their work as well as food for the family but they cannot give command on other things. Their power is limited. In here, women are inferior
because they have no power to decide on bigger things. They are considered as dumb and weak so that they are not able to make any decision. Although house
things are their authority, women are still inferior because they are still living under their husband’s power.
Since Mas Nganten’s arrival to the house, she has been told that she must bow to Bendoro. The situation has been set up to make her biddable to Bendoro.
She must always agree with her husband, and follow his commands. She makes decision only for household things.
The servant opened a drawer in the vanity, took out a key, and handed it to the girl. “After three month, you’ll be able to go wherever you want, as
long as, it’s with the Bendoro’s permission 48.” As a woman, Mas Nganten may not go anywhere unless she has the
Bendoro’s permission. Mas Nganten may have the desire to go to certain places, but this is not her own self who must decide whether she must go there or not. It is
under her husband’s permission. Therefore, Mas Nganten will spend her days only on her room, kitchen, and dining room for sometimes, unless Bendoro
permits or asks her to go. It is Bendoro who is in charge in making the decision. “You belong to me, and I will determine what you can and cannot do and
also what you must do. But now be quite, it’s getting late 133.” Bendoro also has determined that he owns Mas Nganten. As an owner, he
has the right to ask Mas Nganten whatever he wants her to do. It shows the power of man in controlling woman’s life. Bendoro’s authority seems to control the
whole life of Mas Nganten. Mas Nganten has been treated as a property that must always follow her husband’s wants. Mas Nganten’s feeling and wants play no
rules in it, and will not become a consideration of her husband. It happens because, on that period of time, woman complete obedience to man is a duty that
must be fulfilled. Feeling and wants of a woman is considered as nothing and does not exist. Therefore, Bendoro does not need any opinion when he makes decision,
not even from Mas Nganten, his own wife. What happens to Mas Nganten shows us the inferiority of women. Women
are not more than properties. It explains why their feeling and opinion are considered do not exist. Women is not involved in the decision making. They live
only to serve their husbands. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
During her marriage, Mas Nganten focuses only on serving her husband. She stays and spends her spare time at home. Sometimes, it makes her feel bored.
When she has nothing to do, she longs for her village. She, sometimes, wants to see her parents and visit her village, but Mas Nganten realizes that she cannot go
visit her village and her parents. “Tomorrow morning go to the market and buy a bolt of fabric, a few
sarong, sealing resins, sandals, and some tins of cookies.” He paused to think. “And some good rosaries, too, the ones with the black and shiny
beads.”…And as personal gift from me, take with you a basket of scented rolling tobacco 134.”
When the time comes when Mas Nganten is allowed to go visit her home,
Mas Nganten still has duty to do. The duty is following her husband’s command. She must do his command in order to avoid people diminish the respect they hold
toward Bendoro. She cannot decide wha t gifts she should bring. Her husband decides things she must bring to home, and also where and when she should buy
the things. All Mas Nganten has to do is merely following his command. She is also not allowed to go alone, so Bendoro send her to the village with a servant.
Mas Nganten actually does not like this particular servant for her bad treatment toward Mas Nganten. However, she must obey her husband’s order to take the
servant with her. Mas Nganten also has to go with certain carriage her husband wants her to ride. Mas Nganten has no rights to decide anything, not even on
things when she visits her own parents. Mas Nganten is in charge on house things. She may give commands to
every servant in the house, but she has no authority in hiring or dismissing them. There is a servant in the house, replacement of her previous personal servant, who
intended to harm Mas Nganten. The servant is in coalition with Bendoro’s aunt in eliminating Mas Nganten’s position in the house. Mas Nganten actually wants to
dismiss her, but she knows, she has no authority in dismissing employee. Even though the servant is evil and harms her safety, she has no right to defend her own
self of it. Mas Nganten is in charge to give orders and watch the servants’ work. She
may also critice their work, but she does not decide whether a servant still works for the house or not. It is Bendoro’s authority. Mas Nganten opinion is not liable.
Mas Nganten also, once, said to her new personal servant that she would like her to leave. “”When will you be leaving the house?” the girl then asked. “You can’t
order me out of here. This isn’t your house 128.” A servant also knows that Mas Nganten has no authority in dismissing her. It is Bendoro who will decide and do
such of things, and every of Be ndoro’s decision cannot be changed by anyone, not even Mas Nganten, his own wife. Another example is when Bendoro dismissed
Mas Nganten’s previous personal servant. “No” the girl screamed. She clutched her servant’s hands. “Forgive her,
Bendoro. Please forgive her,” she pleaded. The Bendoro answere curtly:”Don’t make a scene Now go back to your room alone. 117”
The servant is considered as being brave enough to accuse Bendoro’s
nephew of committing a crime of stealing Mas Nganten’s wallet. All she has done was giving help. For Bendoro, her action was too brave, therefore Bendoro
decided to dismiss her of the work. Even though Mas Nganten begged him not to dismiss her, Bendoro remained his decision unchanged. Mas Nganten’s begging
counts for nothing. It is his authority and no one can interrupt him in making the decision.
Mas Nganten’s incapability in making decision is also seen in her divorce. After her first birth giving, Bendoro decided to divorce Mas Nganten. Even
though marriage involves two persons in it, it seems that only Bendoro himself who has the right to decide whether the marriage should be defended or not.
“Just get ready to go home,” he snapped. “This isn’t your place anymore.” “What are you saying, Papa?”“What do you think I’m saying? You’ve
been divorced. 259” Bendoro thinks that he does not need Mas Nganten’s opinion when their
marriage will be ended by a divorce. He does not need to hear any word from her about the divorce. Mas Nganten’s opinion is nothing. After divorcing Mas
Nganten, Bendoro also feels that there is no need for him to tell Mas Nganten. That is why he only tells Mas Nganten’s father to take her home. Bendoro’s action
shows how Mas Nganten not only has no right to make any decision, but also no right to be asked for consideration and be informed directly from his husband
about the divorce. From the analysis above, I can conclude that Mas Nganten is inferior, as
she has no right to decide anything for her own life. Her life, as a daughter and a wife, is on the hands of her father and, after the marriage, on the hands of
Bendoro. Woman is not more than property so that man makes a decision without asking woman’s opinion. However, Lorna as an inferior has more freedom than
Mas Nganten. While Lorna can decide on trivial things like how to dress, Mas Nganten is completely inferior that she can only obey what she is told to.
4.1.2
Doing Interests
Lorna is an energetic girl. She loves to do many things. She learns
something new. She loves to gain new knowledge, and develop her way of thinking. As a daughter of a rich man, Lorna is provided with facilities for many
activities. Those activities are ladylike activities. One could garden, fill scrapbooks, collect shells, butterflies or birds’ nests,
read, stitch, go shopping, have lemonade on the veranda, attend chautaquas or play the piano 61.
From the sentence above, we can see that during the period of time, there
several activities women can do. Most of the activities are inside the house. The outdoor activities include only gardening, collecting shells, butterflies, and birds’
nests and shopping. Those activities tend to gain some fun in which women are actually inferior. They are considered as unable to do activities that men do.
Women become the symbol of weakness and disability. In the novel, Spencer describes the differentiation between men and
women activity. Women are identically connected to simple activities that do not need certain skill, and risk less. Of course, this is about protection for women,
and to keep them as ladylike. Stay at home, doing simple activities, and do the house things. These restrictions make women inferior. Their worlds are as narrow
as their knowledge, and they are positioned as weak and disable. Lorna is actually an innovative girl. She loves to gain more knowledge,
and feel unsatisfied with her recent activities. She wants to try new activities. “The range of activities available to those of the female gender left Lorna bored
and restless. 61” Lorna feels tired and bored with activities women can do. For PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
her, those activities are not challenging enough, and they give her no more knowledge. Lorna has her own choice about activities she wants to do.
“…would our fathers care who we choose for friends, or whether or not it was ladylike to sail and play tennis? I’m so sick and tired of being told
what to do by my father. And my mother 62” Lorna has the thought that playing tennis is a more interesting activity
compared to other women activities. Unfortunately, at that time, tennis is played by men only. Playing tennis requires someone to move a lot, and it is not ladylike.
This sport is done by men only, and women are not allowed to do it. A lady should stay still and calm instead of moving around try to hit back the ball. Lorna,
as a lady, must not do tennis. The same thing goes to sailing, which is one of Lorna’s interest. Sailing is
considered as a hard and difficult sport. Sailing asks someone to have certain skills, and it is on the water. It makes sailing even more dangerous. Women is
considered as out of the capability to do it. Therefore, Lorna is not allowed to do the sport by her father. “ I don’t condone women sailing, Lorna, and you know
that. 36” A lady may not do dangerous sport. Once, Lorna asks her father to allow her to ride a boat, but her father forbid her.
“…I’d rather be the organizer of the first women’s yachting club in the state of Minnesota or hunt wild tigers in the velds of Africa. …68-69”
Lorna is interested not only to tennis and sailing. She has the idea about
establishing a women yachting club in Minnesota. She wants to become the organizer and she finds it interesting. Meanwhile, at the time, women are not
allowed to go hunting because of the danger. Gideon Barnett also does not respond her daughter’s idea to establish a yacht club, and does not allowed her
daughter to go hunting. Lorna must be satisfied with being Taylor DuVal’s dance partner.
All restrictions given to her make Lorna disappointed. “Oh, who cares about being pretty anyway? “I’d rather be adventurous and sporting and
interesting. 68” She does not really care about rules that require women as ladylike. Lorna also does not need to be pretty. She wants to be an adventurous
woman who does challenging and interesting sport and activities. She also wants to be an interesting girl who is popular with her wide knowledge and smart
opinion. Lorna even wants to go attend college. One day, Lorna tells her parents that she wants to attend college. “I’d like
to attend college, Papa says it’s unnecessary. …75” Unfortunately, her father says no. According to Hinsley 1967:197, at the time, women receive education
at home or at school for girls. They are taught with house things and house skills like arranging flowers and cooking. Meanwhile, in college, a student will learn
certain disciplines. Therefore, Gideon Barnett thinks that her daughter does not need to attend college, because, as any other women at that time, Lorna will marry
and needs only to learn how to serve her husband. She does not need to learn any other disciplines.
What happens to Lorna clearly explains the inferiority of women at that time. Women is brought to a condition of inferior by taking their freedom to
choose what they want to do. This position becomes more inferior when women do not have the same education with men. Women do not have the chance to
develop themselves and gain more knowledge. They are also considered as do not PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
have the ability to learn what men learn. Of course, it put them into inferior position, because women stay as stupid people.
We can also say that the restrictions on women activities, make women inferior among the society. Women have been unable to experience their own
experience Eagleton: 1991. They have no chance to widen their world and develop their ability. Their knowledge is little and narrow. While they focus on
house things, men are able to get wider chance to develop themselves. Beside attending college, men can also go abroad to learn new things.
In the novel, Lorna is described as a girl who is interested to go travel to Europe to gain her knowledge. “I’d like to travel to Europe. He says I can do that
on my honeymoon. 75” Unfortunately, her father does not permit her. It is because women at the time do not travel abroad or to a distance place alone except
condition asks them to. Women generally travel with her husband or her family for vacation.
All that happens to Lorna represent what happens to women during the period. Women, with inferior position, become more inferior because of the
restrictions. They do not posses the same right with men even for travelling abroad. What makes women have the possibility to go is men, As long as it is
under men’s permission, women can do what they want. Women cannot state their own wish.
In conclusion, women become inferior because of the restrictions. It gives emphasize only on ladylike image a woman must posses. As an effect, it kills the
same chance and right with men that women can have. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
As Lorna, Mas Nganten experiences the same thing. Since her departure to Bendoro’s house, Mas Nganten has been told that she only has a duty here that is
to serve Bendoro. “…the one and only thing she could do- in fact, had to do-was to serve her husband,…61” Therefore, everything Mas Nganten is doing must be
aimed to please her husband. To minimize the chance for Mas Nganten to do trouble, she is not allowed to do everything she wants to do. There are restrictions
for Mas Nganten to follow. In her first day at Bendoro’s house, Mas Nganten felt so nervous and
afraid, and she wanted to see her parents. The restriction requires her to stay and not to meet anyone without Bendoro’s permission. “…until Master gives his
permission, you are not to see anyone 22.” It shows how Mas Nganten, as a representatives of woen at that time, has no right to do what she wants to do
except what have been told to her to do, even though it is her wants to meet her parents who was still in Bendoro’s house.
During the days at Bendoro’s house, Mas Nganten feels so lonely. She can only talk to her personal servant and to Bendoro himself. This lonely feeling
really disturbs her. She could see that there are many servants in this house to whom she can talk to. She tries to know them and ease her lonely days.
Unfortunately, she is not allowed to socialize with anyo ne. “She wasn’t allowed to have friends 41.” Mas Nganten cannot talk to servants except her personal
servant. She can only give them orders to do something. “” No, Young Mistress, the Bendoro’s consort cannot talk to just anyone. Just tell the people here what
you want and don’t be hesitant about it….78” Talking to servants is considered PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
inappropriate, and Mas Nganten is not allowed to do so for the sake of Bendoro’s nobility.
Mas Nganten existence is aimed merely for Bendoro’s pleasure. Therefore, Mas Nganten cannot do anything that pleases her only. Even her personal person
has to remind her everyday that she may not be anywhere close to the kitchen where sevants work. “”You’d best stay out of the kitchen,’ her servant
advised.”The kitchen help are nothing more than servants,… 63” Mas Nganten is allowed to visit the kitchen whenever she needs to check and prepare for
Bendoro’s meal. Her position as Bendoro’s wife makes her unable to socialize with servants, and other people from the lower class.
She wanted to join the party makers below, to be a part of the crowd of people she had known since she was just a baby. But now that was not
possible, for she was higher than them all 66. Restriction to socialize is not only to servants, but also for other people
who is in lower social class of her. Mas Nganten really wants to meet her old friends but since her marriage with Bendoro, she cannot do as she pleases. When
her friends from the village help for the preparation of a wedding party in the city, Mas Nganten really wants to join them, to talk and help them as she was used to.
Of course, Mas Nganten is not able to fulfil her wants. Her status is now higher than them all.
Beside restriction on not to socialize to servants and old friends, Mas Nganten is also not allowed to communicate with Bendoro’s sons and daughters
of the previous wives. She can communicate to Bendoro’s nephews and her PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
personal servant only. As a woman, her maternal instinct comes up. It can be seen through her curiosity about Bendoro’s children.
..the more time she spent in his house, the more she wanted to take care of his children. But that, it seemed, was not to be; the children of previous
consorts were intentionally kept away from her sight. Even the older child, the Young Master Ra hmat, she rarely saw,…64-65.
Mas Nganten really wants to take care of Bendoro’s children. She wants to
be their mother, but it is forbidden. The servants have been told to take the children away of Mas Nganten’s sight. So, Mas Nganten cannot see or take care
of them. Mas Nganten is absolutely isolated from her surroundings. The restrictions have tortured her, but it has not enough yet.
Mas Nganten’s position as a practice wife taken from lower social class makes her more isolated. Mas Nganten is not allowed to have a guest. She also
cannot accompany her husband having a guest as every wife does. The Bendoro’s marriage to a common woman made it impossible for him
to receive as his guests married couples of the same upper class; the presence of his commoner wife would be seen as an affront 76.
Even though Mas Nganten is Bendoro’s own wife, her position makes her
unable to meet her husband’s guests from the upper class. Bendoro is not considered married when he married to Mas Nganten. The marriage is a practice
marriage. Therefore, Bendoro always asks his wife to go inside her room whnever he receives a guest. Sometimes, Bendoro needs only to tell her that he has a guest,
and Mas Nganten will directly go inside her room. “There’s a guest for dinner tonight,” he said softly, then stood in place,
watching her. She rose from her chair, bowed to him, then lowered her body and went
back to the bedroom that was her cage 87. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
Only by telling Mas Nganten that he will receive a guest, Mas Nganten will know that this is time for her to go inside her bedroom and not to step outside
unless Bendoro asks her to, or the guest already leaves the house. The rule must be obeyed not only whenever Bendoro receive his colleague, but also whenever
Bendoro has his family or relatives visit him. As though through cotton-stuffed ears, she listened as her husband called
together his young male relatives and delivered to them a host of commands. Several hours later, she heard the sound of another voice, that
of a woman, as the Bendoro sat at the dining table with his guest 249. One day, a woman who is Bendoro’s relative from Demak comes to visit
him, Mas Nganten is totally not being involved in. She must stay at her room, while her husband prepares everything along with his nephews. Mas Nganten is
not allowed to go outside her room, and she could only hear the sound of the preparation from her room. She plays no rule that she can figure out that
Bendoro’s guest is a woman by hearing her husband’s conversation with his guest. In that condition, Mas Nganten’s life becomes so boring. Too many things
are forbidden for her. This is not only her activities that are restricted, but also her social life and her movement.
In the year that she had been at the Bendoro’s house, she had never once set foot in the front or central room of the house, nor in the inner rooms.
The preyer room was the only exception. No one had ever told her not to enter these rooms; it was a rule that she herself had sensed to be in place.
There seemed to be a silent power forbidding her 71. Mas Nganten visits the prayer room, or is called khalwat, to have a pray
with her husband. Even though she visits the room when she has pray with her husband or in every pray time. At least, it is another room she can visit after the
kitchen, dining room, back garden and inner room. She is afraid to visit those rooms unless her husband wants her to do so.
Feeling so lonely, Mas Nganten, sometimes, wants to go for a walk. She wants to meet many persons and make friends. She wants to see a world other
than her own room, but the back garden is already the most distance place she can reach. She even cannot go out to shop some vegetables to cook. She has the
vender comes to the entrance. Such was also the case with the vegetables vendor, who posted himself
each morning beneath the overhang outside the kitchen window, and the meat seller, who took up position at the rear entrance, between the kitchen
and the back steps; they, too, seemed to be of an altogether different breed 239.
Wherever Mas Nganten needs to shop some vegetables or meat to cook,
she is not allowed to go to the market with the servant. She must wait for the vegetables vendor or the meat seller delivered the items in the kitchen window, or
at the rear entrance. Every socialization, movement, and Mas Nganten’s wants is limited. Even though Mas Nganten has the authority on her house hold things, she
is not more than bird who must always gotten into her cage. The rule forbids her not to go outside the house. Fortunately, Bendoro gives her activities to do on her
spare times. A batik teacher was called to the house to teach the girl how to transform a
piece of white cloth into a fabric of multicoloured patterns;…. Once a week another teacher came to teach her cake making. And every third day,
her religion teacher would come to tell her tales of mystery that had been handed down from some far-distant desert kingdom 62.
Bendoro called three teachers to teach Mas Nganten many skills to cheer
her up and to use her spare time wisely. The first teacher teaches her how to make PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
batik cloth. It seems that it is Mas Nganten’s most favourite activity, because, later, she often spends her time making batik cloth. The second teacher comes
once every week to teach her cooking. The third teacher comes every three days to give her religion lesson and to teach her reading Arabic.
The activities do make Mas Nganten busier than before. She even learns new things she has never known before. However, Mas Nganten does not feel
quite happy. It is because those activities are held not because she wants to do so. All Mas Nganten wants to have are freedom and space for her to do what she
wants, and she cannot have that. The activities just seem to keep her busy and have no time to have certain wants.
Her life, made up of her duties and tasks—from supervision of the kitchen to making batik, from shopping for food outside the kitchen door to
serving her husband’s meal--…241. Mas Nganten’s feeling of lonely and despair are so huge that she cannot
enjoy her own life. For Mas Nganten, her life is merely duties and tasks to do. Worse, those duties and tasks have never been for her importance, but only for her
husband’s pleasure. The rules and restrictions are also implemented for the sake of the Bendoro.
What happens to Mas Nganten clearly shows women’s inferiority during the time. Women are not allowed to do their interest, because they are considered
as do not deserve to receive the chance. Women’s life is about serving their husband only. They have to focus in it, and step aside their want. Preferring their
interest means disobeying their husbands. From the evidence above, I can conclude that Mas Nganten is inferior so
that she cannot do any of her interest. All she must do is obey the rule, and please PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
her husband without too much demanding such as making friends, and walking outside the house. However, women inferiority in Javanese society is greater than
in American society. Lorna is still able to go out the house for party or visiting a friend, while Mas Nganten must stay inside the house unless her husband asks her
to go.
4.1.3 Expressing Feelings and Ideas
