Love, Faith, Religion and Colonialization: Cultural Insight in the Soul of Archipelago Literature

摘要

This paper discusses the role of literature in the development of culture, country, world and humanity of the people. The great literary work is not only beautiful artfully in terms of language and its shape, it can even give insights into thinking, science, values and soul, which can instill and develop the culture and civilization of a nation or country. In short, literature can function as an agent of cultural reconstruction and transformation. Traditional literature of the archipelago has revealed the vision and philosophy of exquisite Malay culture and serves as an institution or discourse of public education. These are all clearly revealed in pantun, proverbs, precept or poems of their peoples. The role of literature in the reconstruction and transformation of the culture was continued by new or modern literature as reflected by the works of Munsyi Abdullah (1796-1854), RA Kartini (1879-1904), Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana (1908-1994), HAMKA (1908-1981), Amir Hamzah (1911-1946) and Chairil Anwar (1922-1949). Cultural insights that discussing love, cultural customs, religion and occupation occurred in the works of HAMKA and the impact of the writing will be discussed.