Female Liberation in Javanese Legend “Jaka Tarub”

<p>The existence of nymph characters in many myths and folktales has brought fascinating yet complex issues on gender relation in patriarchal society. Most of the nymphs are female who has superhuman power. They are usually represented as having charm that allures men.</p><p>This study explores a Javanese well known legend of Jaka Tarub and Nawang Wulan Using feminist theory as a framework, this study addresses the female opression in a patriarchal society through the portrayal of the heroine Dewi Nawang Wulan, a celestial nymph with supranatural power, who is trapped and deprived of her power by Jaka Tarub. The narrative of Jaka Tarub and Nawang Wulan represents women as the involuntary victims of socializing mechanisms, and the ‘otherness’ of woman in a male-oriented culture. The story challenges the commonly held notion that happiness for women is dependent on men’s protection. In many fairy tale, marriage is the ultimate goal that will end the female heroine’s misery like in cinderella. However in Jaka Tarub and Nawang Wulan the marriage is just the beginning of an oppression and suffering.The male protector only brings distress and suffering. Once the female superhuman power is gained back, the women are liberated from the shackle of patriarchy. </p><p> </p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong><em>female liberation, socializing mechanisms, otherness</em></p>