Postcolonial Ecocriticism in Ratna Indraswari Ibrahim’s Lema Tanjun

Abstract

This study critiques the impact of development and anthropocentrism on postcolonial landscapes in Indonesia, focusing on Ratna Indraswari Ibrahim’s novel Lemah Tanjung. The narrative vividly depicts the consequences of modernization, deforestation, and loss of green spaces, leading to a longing for the loss of emotional attachment to place. The narrative highlights the struggle to preserve green spaces in Malang City amidst urban development derived from capitalistic mindset. Using postcolonial ecocritical frameworks, the study critiques Western development paradigms that prioritize economic growth over ecological and social justice. The materials and methods include postcolonial ecocriticism literary analysis of Lemah Tanjung, examining its portrayal of land ownership, resistance, and generational disconnect in perceiving place. The results criticize development and anthropocentrism, emphasizing the novel’s advocacy for ecological and social justice. It concludes how Ibrahim’s novel contextualizes the dialectics of land ownership and presents contrasting perspectives on development and natural conservation.