Muse: Jurnal of Art

DISOBEDIENCE OF CONFUCIAN RULES IN MAXINE HONG KINGSTON’S THE WOMAN WARRIOR

Happy Simamora — 2025-07-15

This study aims to find and analyze the disobedience to Confucian rules that found in Maxine Hong Kingston's The Woman Warrior. This research uses qualitative methods with data collection done through comprehensive reading, marking relevant data, reading the concepts and theories applied and removing irrelevant data and writing the most relevant to be analyze. The data analyze with feminist theories. The results found are that there are Confucian rules that do not support gender equality or demean women. Therefore, through her work Kingston expresses disobedience to these rules. The rules that found are: Match making, the difference between boys and girls, humility, husband's and wife's duties, wholehearted devotion, and silencing women. Through this research, women must dare to get out of their comfort zone, to be independent, speak up, and not be afraid of restrictive rules, and have a freedom to do domestic and public roles.

TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES IN WILLIAM FAULKNER’S THE SOUND AND THE FURY

Nadia Putri Nazara — 2025-07-15

This study aims to analyze the traumatic experiences of the main character, Quentin Compson, in The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner using a psychoanalytic approach developed by Sigmund Freud, specifically the concepts of the id, ego, and superego. This study also focuses on identifying the types of trauma faced by Quentin and studying how conflicts within his personality structure impact his mental state. The method used is descriptive qualitative. Data collection was conducted through several steps, namely in-depth reading, marking relevant quotes, studying supporting theories, and filtering the data to select the most appropriate textual evidence. Data analysis used the Miles and Huberman framework, which includes data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions and verification based on Freud's psychoanalytic theory. The results of the study indicate that Quentin experienced six interrelated types of trauma: moral, existential, relational, family, identity, and social trauma. These traumas are reflected through the stream-of-conciousness narrative style and furthermore reinforced by the use of symbols the pocket watch, river, and forest. The chaos between id drives, superego pressures, and the failure of the ego as a mediator leads to Quentin's mental breakdown.

HEGEMONY IN UNTOUCHABLE BY MULK RAJ ANAND

Lovenna Theresia Parapat — 2025-07-15

This study aims to analyze the social hierarchy and marginalization in Mulk Raj Anand's Untouchable through the theory of Cultural Marxism, especially Antonio Gramsci's concept of hegemony. This study uses a qualitative narrative method with a descriptive approach. The method used is descriptive qualitative. Data collection was conducted through several steps, namely reading and understanding the novel thoroughly, noting relevant quotations, collecting supporting theoretical references, and classifying the data into categories. Data analysis used the Miles and Huberman framework, which includes data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The results of the study show that the social hierarchy in the novel is reflected through the caste system that places the main character, Bakha, as an "untouchable." Marginalization is seen in the restrictions on Bakha's access to education, work, health services, and places of worship. Hegemony is formed through the dominance of ideology and cultural institutions that make injustice accepted as normal, even by those who are oppressed. This study shows that Untouchable not only depicts social inequality, but also makes readers aware of how ideology works to maintain an unequal power structure. Through this study, readers are expected to be more critical of social injustice that is hidden in culture and social systems.

HUMAN GRIT IN SHERMAN ALEXIE’S

Krisdayanti Novita Manihuruk — 2025-07-15

This thesis explores the role of human grit: passion and perseverance in the development of the main character, Arnold Spirit Jr. in Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part – Time Indian. Using mimetic theory and narrative qualitative methodology, this study examines how Junior’s determination to purse education and self-identity serves as resistance to the socio-economic limitations of reservation life. Despite poverty, racism, and personal loss, Junior exhibits high levels of grit, suggesting that passion and perseverance are essential for marginalized youth striving to achieve long – term goals. The findings confirm Duckworth’s view that grit is a more significant predicator of success than intelligence or talent.

RETIREES’ PSYCHOLOGICAL STRUGGLES IN ERNEST HEMINGWAY’S THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

Bertova Simanihuruk — 2025-07-15

This study explores and analyzes the psychological struggles of retirees as portrayed in Ernest Hemingway's novel The Old Man and the Sea. The research uses a qualitative method with a psychosocial theory approach. The data are collected through comprehensive reading and identifying relevant narrative, dialogue, and symbolic elements. The data are analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s method, which includes data collection, data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The novel is viewed as a reflection of various psychological struggles, such as identity crisis, fear of uselessness, and loneliness. The results show that identity crisis is represented through Santiago’s self-doubt after failing to catch fish for many days. He feels that he is no longer the great fisherman he once was. The fear of uselessness is shown through his physical weakness and the fact that he is no longer as strong as he was in his youth. Nevertheless, he continues to fight hard to prove that he is still useful and that his life still has meaning. Loneliness is illustrated by his solitary life: no wife, no children, and no close friends. In conclusion, the author wants to convey that people do not need to run away from the reality of growing old. Instead, they should accept it wholeheartedly and continue to live their old age with enthusiasm, meaning, and happiness.

SOCIAL PREJUDICE IN TONI MORRISON’S THE BLUEST EYE

Nova Vertiwi Simamora — 2025-07-15

This study explores social prejudice in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye. The novel is seen as a portrait of social prejudice dealing with antilocution, avoidance, discrimination, physical attack, and extermination. This is a qualitative study; the primary data source is the novel The Bluest Eye, while secondary data are taken from books, journal articles, and relevant online sources. The analysis combines the literary sociology theory of Wellek and Warren, which sees that, literature is a reflection of social reality, and Gordon Allport’s concept of prejudice to analyze the causes and types of prejudice antilocution, avoidance, discrimination, physical attack, and extermination, shown in the novel. In conclusion, Toni Morrison in The Bluest Eye vividly conveys how social prejudice destroys a person’s identity and hope for life, especially those who are most vulnerable.

THE POTRAIT OF HUMAN ANXIETY IN IAN MCEWAN’S ATONEMENT

Ricki Alfredo Bintang — 2025-07-15

This study explores the phenomenon of anxiety in Ian McEwan's Atonement (2001), focusing on neurotic and moral anxiety. Using a qualitative research method, it examines the characters and their psychological dynamics through the novel's text and relevant journals. The study employs Freud's psychoanalytic theory to understand the internal conflicts faced by the characters. Data collection involved in-depth exploration of the novel and analysis of literature on anxiety. The findings reveal that the portrayal of anxiety in Atonement reflects the complexities of neurotic and moral anxiety, influencing the main character's actions and decisions. The character's neurotic anxiety, stemming from her inability to grasp reality, interacts with moral anxiety related to her responsibilities. This representation highlights the struggle with deep anxiety and its effects on interpersonal relationships and the search for meaning. The study aims to provide insights into how anxiety shapes individual identity and morality within a broader narrative context.

NATIVEPHILIA AND ANGLOPHILIA IN SHARMAN ALEXIE’S RESERVATION BLUES

Juliyanti Sidabutar — 2025-07-15

This study discusses the adverse effects of foreign cultural influences on local cultures and the repercussions faced by local cultures that adopt foreign elements. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the research draws on primary data from Sherman Alexie's novel Reservation Blues (1995) and various scholarly articles relevant to the themes explored. The analysis is framed within two postcolonial theories proposed by Homi Bhabha and Tressa Berman, which provide distinct perspectives on identity and representation in a postcolonial context, specifically focusing on the concepts of nativephilia and anglophilia, closely linked to cultural appropriation and mimicry. The findings indicate that 1) Cultural appropriation contributes to the erosion of local customs and the loss of cultural heritage, highlighting the risks associated with the uncritical adoption of foreign cultural practices. 2) Mimicry leads to negative consequences for individuals and society, ing a sense of alienation and disconnection from one's cultural identity.

TENSES IN TEXT BOOK OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL: A SEMANTIC ANALYSIS

Jon Pieter Situmorang — 2025-07-15

This article deals with Tenses in Text Book of Senior High School : A Semantic Analysis. The objective of this article is to find out what functions of tenses in the English Textbook 1^styear “TALK ACTIVE”. The article used the qualitative research to carry out the study. In discussing about functions of tenses, the theory of Sukma Setiabudhi (1958) was used to analyze the data. The result shows that in the curriculum, there are four kinds of tenses, they are: (1) simple present tense, (2) simple past tense,(3) simple future tense, and (4) present perfect tense. Meanwhile, in the English Textbook 1^st year “Talk Active”, there are nine kinds of tenses, they are (1) Simple Present Tense (2) Simple Past Tense (3) Simple Future Tense, (4) Present Continuous Tense (5) Past Continuous Tense (6) Present Perfect Tense (7) Past Perfect Tense, (8) Present Perfect Continuous Tense (9) Past Perfect Continuous Tense. It is evident that there is a significant inconsistency between the materials presented in the textbook and the syllabus. This disparity is causing unnecessary confusion for both the teacher and the students. The teacher is unable to teach tenses mentioned in the curriculum but not explained in the textbook, which is unacceptable. It is imperative that the materials are synchronized to ensure a seamless learning experience.