Letters of a Javanese Princess: Javanese Etiquette, Woman, and Nobility

Letters of a Javanese Princess

Javanese Etiquette

Woman and Nobility

v  Woman

Ø  The role of woman is bounded by tradition (imprisonment and marriage arrangement).

§  Javanese etiquette for women is that they must be gentle and submissive whether for nobles or just ordinary women. Generally, the role of women is bounded by traditions as we had read that even noble like Kartini was being imprisoned.

Evidence: When I reached the age of twelve, I was kept at home—I must go into the “box.” I was locked up, and cut off from all communication with the outside world (Page 9).

§  Kartini and other Javanese women must marry with a man who is chosen by the woman’s parents.

Evidence : The women have no say at all in the matter, but are simply married out of hand, according to the will of of their parents, to whomsoever those powerful ones shall find good (Page 41).

Ø  Women do not have access to pursue higher education.

Due to imprisonment as in Javanese custom, Kartini could not get to a higher education. It was fortunate for Kartini that she was a princess, so at least she could get basic education for a little while. On the other side, ordinary women could not get any education at all.

Evidence: The only place of instruction of which our city could boast, which was open to us, was a free grammar school for Europeans (Page 9).

Ø  Women have to obey men.

Evidence: A girl had no right to do anything which would even partially detract from the importance of a man (Page 37).

v  Nobility

Ø  Respected by society with exaggerating manner.

Kartini was a woman born with Javanese Princess title. She was respected by society with such exaggerating manner toward her. That later refused by her for she thought women are equal to each other.

Evidence: I never allow women older than I to show all the prescribed ceremonies to me… It is strange how attached inferiors are to those above them (Page 26).

Ø  Have certain privilege to get education.

Kartini was a noble which made her having certain privileges to get an education at Free Grammar School for Europeans (page 9), and later she also learnt Dutch language (page 30)

Evidence: The only place of instruction of which our city could boast, which was open to us, was a free grammar school for Europeans (page 9); I will work hard over the Dutch language (page 30).

Ø  Javanese tradition is uphold.

Javanese custom was even stricter for nobles. They can get higher education, but women nobles cannot due to custom which women must be kept inside house before marriage.

Evidence: I was kept at home. I was locked up, and cut off from all communication with the outside world, toward which I might never turn again save at the side of a bridegroom (page 9).

Author:

Arum Ratnaning Ratri

2211416050

English Literature 2016

Universitas Negeri Semarang

For subject:

Prose Analysis (503)