Harimau! Harimau!
Encyclopedia
Harimau! Harimau! is an Indonesian novel
written by Mochtar Lubis
and originally published in 1975
. Written in a Madiun
prison as a response to Indonesians
following President Sukarno
's leadership without question, it tells the story of seven dammar
collectors who are attacked by a tiger
on their way back to their village and are unable to be saved by their charismatic leader. The book was critically acclaimed, receiving the Best Book award from the Indonesia
n Department of Education and Culture. It has been translated into English
, Dutch
and Mandarin.
. Lubis later wrote that two events during this period, seeing a well-built yet abandoned hut and having a close call with a tiger, served partly as his inspiration for Harimau! Harimau! Further inspiration was drawn while he was imprisoned, where he thought of the charisma
tic leadership held by both Sukarno and traditional dukun
, or witch doctors, and the frailty of such power.
Harimau! Harimau! was originally written while Mochtar Lubis was imprisoned in Madiun, East Java
. The original title was Hutan (Forest). It was published by Pustaka Jaya in 1975.
prayers.
The following day, the dammar collectors go hunting and shoot a deer. After shooting it, they hear the roar of a tiger. Hurriedly they carve up the dear, then bring it to their next camp. That evening, while defecating, Pak Balam is attacked by a tiger. Although Wak Katok manages to frighten the tiger by firing his rifle, Pak Balam is seriously injured. He tells the others of prophetic dreams he had, and concludes that God is punishing them for their sins. Pak Balam then admits his sins, as well as some of Wak Katok's. Due to his sins being brought to light, Wak Katok begins worrying that the others have lost faith in him. To prevent that, Wak Katok divines that the tiger attacking them is not supernatural or sent by God, much to the other's relief.
The next morning, they abandon some of their dammar and continue on their way back to Air Jernih, carrying Pak Balam. Around midday, Talib is attacked while urinating and severely wounded. Although they are able to frighten the tiger away, the dammar collectors are unable to stop Talib from succumbing to his wounds; he dies soon after admitting that he has sinned. Frightened by Talib's fate, Sanip confesses both his sins and Talib's. They establish camp and spend the night uneasily, worried that the tiger will attack.
Due to Pak Balam's worsening condition, the next day the dammar collectors are unable to continue their journey. Instead, after burying Talib, Wak Katok, Buyung, and Sanip go to hunt the tiger. After following the tiger's tracks for most of the day, they realize that it has doubled back and is going to their camp. Meanwhile, at camp, Sutan snaps due to Pak Balam's continuous admonition to repent his sins and attempts to strangle him. After being stopped by Pak Haji, Sutan runs away into the forest, where he is attacked by the tiger and killed. Pak Balam also dies from his wounds and is promptly buried.
The following morning the remaining dammar collectors leave to hunt the tiger, taking a path through a thicket. They walk for hours, and eventually Pak Haji realizes that they are lost. After Buyung saves his life from a tree viper
, Pak Haji confides in him and they decide to watch Wak Katok more closely. Not long after, they confront Wak Katok, saying that he is only making them more lost. Wak Katok snaps, and threatens to shoot Buyung unless he confesses his sins. Buyung is unwilling, and Wak Katok prepares to shoot him. However, they are interrupted by the approach of the tiger. Wak Katok tries to shoot him, but his rifle misfires because the gunpowder had become wet.
Using fire, Buyung and the others manage to frighten the tiger away. Sanip tells the others that he saw Wak Katok rape with Siti Rubiyah; Wak Katok counters that he paid her, and she would have sex with anyone willing to give her something. Wak Katok becomes more unstable and tells the others to go into the darkness, threatening to shoot them. Unwilling to face the tiger, Buyung, Pak Haji, and Sanip attempt to ambush Wak Katok. Although they succeed in stopping him and tying him up, Wak Katok shoots Pak Haji in the process. Before he dies, Pak Haji tells Buyung "before you kill the wild tiger, you must kill the tiger within yourself."
The following morning Buyung and Sanip bury Pak Haji, then take the bound Wak Katok hunting for the tiger. Although Wak Katok threatens them, they refuse to release him and discard the talismans he gave them. Around midday they find the remains of Sutan, and bury them. Soon after, they prepare a trap for the tiger. They tie Wak Katok to a tree and use him as bait, then lie in wait. When the tiger approaches, Buyung is tempted to let it kill Wak Katok before shooting it. However, after remembering Pak Haji's dying words, Buyung shoots the tiger and kills it. He and Sanip then untie the unconscious Wak Katok and prepare for the trip home.
and pencak expert. He is the teacher of Buyung, Sutan, Sanip, and Talib. A charismatic leader, during the 1926 rebellion against the Dutch colonial government
he committed war crimes, including rape, murder, and killing one of his injured soldiers so the rest of his unit could escape. Although prior to the tiger attacks all of the dammar collectors trust him, after the attacks begin he is slowly driven to insanity by worrying about the damage to his public image caused by his inability to stop them. After he kills Pak Haji, he is arrested by Buyung and Sanip, then used as bait for the tiger. He is to be turned over to the police upon arrival at Air Jernih village.
for the hajj
. Although he married and became a widower in India
, he remained unmarried in Air Jernih. After the death of his wife and child, he lost his faith in God. He is one of the first to suspect Wak Katok, but is unwilling to discuss it with the others until after Buyung saves his life. Pak Haji is later shot and killed by Wak Katok.
es from a neighboring village. He also frequented prostitutes and once kicked a copy of the Quran to the middle of the street. Sanip is eventually able to return home to Air Jernih.
him and is unhappy with her marriage. She feels tortured by Wak Katok, who bites, whips, and pinches her. After confiding in Buyung and asking him to rescue her, they have intercourse. However, after hearing of her promiscuity, Buyung decides to renege on his promise and leave her with Wak Hitam.
Indonesians that belief in God
and self-confidence
can protect them, not mantra
s or talisman
s.
Scholar A. Teeuw considered Harimau! Harimau! a good read, but he did not think it could be considered an example of Indonesian belles-lettres
. He considered the moral message too explicit, to the point of appearing forced.
Harimau! Harimau! has been translated numerous times, including into English (Tiger!, 1991), Dutch (Een Tijger valt aan, 1982) and Mandarin.
Indonesian literature
Indonesian literature, is a term grouping various genres of South-East Asian literature.Indonesian Literature can refer to literature produced in the Indonesian archipelago. It is also used to refer more broadly to literature produced in areas with common language roots based on the Malay language...
written by Mochtar Lubis
Mochtar Lubis
Mochtar Lubis was an Indonesian Batak journalist and novelist who co-founded Indonesia Raya. His novel Senja di Jakarta was the first Indonesian novel to be translated into English. He was a critic of Sukarno and was imprisoned by him...
and originally published in 1975
1975 in literature
The year 1975 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* August 12 — with the 20-year time limit stipulated by Thomas Mann at his death having expired, sealed packets containing 32 of the author's notebooks were opened in Zurich, Switzerland.* Writing under the...
. Written in a Madiun
Madiun
Madiun is a city in the western part of the province of East Java Indonesia, an agricultural centre. It is the capital of the regency of the same name....
prison as a response to Indonesians
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
following President Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
's leadership without question, it tells the story of seven dammar
Dammar gum
Dammar gum is obtained from the Dipterocarpaceae family of trees in India and East Asia, principally those of the genera Shorea, Balanocarpus or Hopea. Most is produced by tapping trees; however, some is collected in fossilized form from the ground. The gum varies in colour from clear to pale...
collectors who are attacked by a tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
on their way back to their village and are unable to be saved by their charismatic leader. The book was critically acclaimed, receiving the Best Book award from the Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n Department of Education and Culture. It has been translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
and Mandarin.
Writing
When he was an adolescent, Mochtar Lubis often trekked into the jungles of SumatraSumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
. Lubis later wrote that two events during this period, seeing a well-built yet abandoned hut and having a close call with a tiger, served partly as his inspiration for Harimau! Harimau! Further inspiration was drawn while he was imprisoned, where he thought of the charisma
Charisma
The term charisma has two senses: 1) compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, 2) a divinely conferred power or talent. For some theological usages the term is rendered charism, with a meaning the same as sense 2...
tic leadership held by both Sukarno and traditional dukun
Dukun
A dukun is an Indonesian-Malay term for shaman. In Malaysia, they are often referred to as bomoh, but dukun is the more ancient term. Their societal role is that of a traditional healer, spirit medium, custom and tradition experts and on occasion sorcerers and masters of black magic.The dukun is...
, or witch doctors, and the frailty of such power.
Harimau! Harimau! was originally written while Mochtar Lubis was imprisoned in Madiun, East Java
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
. The original title was Hutan (Forest). It was published by Pustaka Jaya in 1975.
Plot
Seven dammar collectors from Air Jernih village, Pak Haji, Sutan, Sanip, Talib, Buyung, and Pak Balam, venture into the forests of Sumatra, led by the dukun Wak Katok. After two weeks collecting dammar and staying at Wak Hitam's nearby house, they prepare to return home. However, upon departure Buyung realizes that he has forgotten to check his kancil trap and returns to Wak Katok's. Upon his arrival, he removes the kancil from the trap and goes to a nearby stream to have a drink. At the stream, he meets Wak Hitam's young wife Siti Rubiyah, who is crying. After comforting her and giving her the kancil, they have sex two times. It is Buyung's first time. Buyung later arrives at the camp in the evening, just before maghribMaghrib
The Maghrib prayer , prayed just after sunset, is the fourth of five formal daily prayers performed by practicing Muslims.The formal daily prayers of Islam comprise different numbers of units, called rak'at. The Maghrib prayer has three obligatory rak'at. The first two fard rak'at are prayed...
prayers.
The following day, the dammar collectors go hunting and shoot a deer. After shooting it, they hear the roar of a tiger. Hurriedly they carve up the dear, then bring it to their next camp. That evening, while defecating, Pak Balam is attacked by a tiger. Although Wak Katok manages to frighten the tiger by firing his rifle, Pak Balam is seriously injured. He tells the others of prophetic dreams he had, and concludes that God is punishing them for their sins. Pak Balam then admits his sins, as well as some of Wak Katok's. Due to his sins being brought to light, Wak Katok begins worrying that the others have lost faith in him. To prevent that, Wak Katok divines that the tiger attacking them is not supernatural or sent by God, much to the other's relief.
The next morning, they abandon some of their dammar and continue on their way back to Air Jernih, carrying Pak Balam. Around midday, Talib is attacked while urinating and severely wounded. Although they are able to frighten the tiger away, the dammar collectors are unable to stop Talib from succumbing to his wounds; he dies soon after admitting that he has sinned. Frightened by Talib's fate, Sanip confesses both his sins and Talib's. They establish camp and spend the night uneasily, worried that the tiger will attack.
Due to Pak Balam's worsening condition, the next day the dammar collectors are unable to continue their journey. Instead, after burying Talib, Wak Katok, Buyung, and Sanip go to hunt the tiger. After following the tiger's tracks for most of the day, they realize that it has doubled back and is going to their camp. Meanwhile, at camp, Sutan snaps due to Pak Balam's continuous admonition to repent his sins and attempts to strangle him. After being stopped by Pak Haji, Sutan runs away into the forest, where he is attacked by the tiger and killed. Pak Balam also dies from his wounds and is promptly buried.
The following morning the remaining dammar collectors leave to hunt the tiger, taking a path through a thicket. They walk for hours, and eventually Pak Haji realizes that they are lost. After Buyung saves his life from a tree viper
Trimeresurus sumatranus
Trimeresurus sumatranus is a venomous pitviper species found in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Arboreal, its coloration is pale green with a red tail...
, Pak Haji confides in him and they decide to watch Wak Katok more closely. Not long after, they confront Wak Katok, saying that he is only making them more lost. Wak Katok snaps, and threatens to shoot Buyung unless he confesses his sins. Buyung is unwilling, and Wak Katok prepares to shoot him. However, they are interrupted by the approach of the tiger. Wak Katok tries to shoot him, but his rifle misfires because the gunpowder had become wet.
Using fire, Buyung and the others manage to frighten the tiger away. Sanip tells the others that he saw Wak Katok rape with Siti Rubiyah; Wak Katok counters that he paid her, and she would have sex with anyone willing to give her something. Wak Katok becomes more unstable and tells the others to go into the darkness, threatening to shoot them. Unwilling to face the tiger, Buyung, Pak Haji, and Sanip attempt to ambush Wak Katok. Although they succeed in stopping him and tying him up, Wak Katok shoots Pak Haji in the process. Before he dies, Pak Haji tells Buyung "before you kill the wild tiger, you must kill the tiger within yourself."
The following morning Buyung and Sanip bury Pak Haji, then take the bound Wak Katok hunting for the tiger. Although Wak Katok threatens them, they refuse to release him and discard the talismans he gave them. Around midday they find the remains of Sutan, and bury them. Soon after, they prepare a trap for the tiger. They tie Wak Katok to a tree and use him as bait, then lie in wait. When the tiger approaches, Buyung is tempted to let it kill Wak Katok before shooting it. However, after remembering Pak Haji's dying words, Buyung shoots the tiger and kills it. He and Sanip then untie the unconscious Wak Katok and prepare for the trip home.
Buyung
The main character. He is a 19-year-old and student of Wak Katok. He is known as the best shot in Air Jernih village. Although he wishes to marry a local girl, Zaitun, he is sexually attracted to Siti Rubiyah. At first, he feels pleased after he and Siti Rubiyah have intercourse, but after the tiger attacks he feels as if he has committed a grave sin. This worries him until after he takes charge, killing the tiger and saving himself, Sanip, and Wak Katok; he is able to make his peace with the past and try to forget about Siti Rubiyah. He decides to propose to Zaitun upon returning to Air Jernih.Wak Katok
Fifty-year-old Wak Katok is the leader of the dammar collectors and a much-respected and feared dukunDukun
A dukun is an Indonesian-Malay term for shaman. In Malaysia, they are often referred to as bomoh, but dukun is the more ancient term. Their societal role is that of a traditional healer, spirit medium, custom and tradition experts and on occasion sorcerers and masters of black magic.The dukun is...
and pencak expert. He is the teacher of Buyung, Sutan, Sanip, and Talib. A charismatic leader, during the 1926 rebellion against the Dutch colonial government
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
he committed war crimes, including rape, murder, and killing one of his injured soldiers so the rest of his unit could escape. Although prior to the tiger attacks all of the dammar collectors trust him, after the attacks begin he is slowly driven to insanity by worrying about the damage to his public image caused by his inability to stop them. After he kills Pak Haji, he is arrested by Buyung and Sanip, then used as bait for the tiger. He is to be turned over to the police upon arrival at Air Jernih village.
Pak Haji
Sixty-year-old Pak Haji Rakhmad, often called Pak Haji, is a respected village elder who travelled abroad for many years, including to MeccaMecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
for the hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
. Although he married and became a widower in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, he remained unmarried in Air Jernih. After the death of his wife and child, he lost his faith in God. He is one of the first to suspect Wak Katok, but is unwilling to discuss it with the others until after Buyung saves his life. Pak Haji is later shot and killed by Wak Katok.
Sutan
Sutan is a married, twenty-two-year-old student of Wak Katok. He is popular with women and well-trained at pencak. After the tiger attacks, he is slowly driven insane by Pak Balam's constant moaning to admit his sins. After thinking of his sins, including rape, murder, fornication, and theft, he attempts to strangle Pak Balam and then runs away from camp. He is later killed and partially eaten by the tiger.Sanip
Sanip is a married twenty-five-year-old student of Wak Katok. He is optimistic] and enjoys joking. Together with Sutan and Talib, he stole four water buffaloWater buffalo
The water buffalo is a domesticated bovid widely kept in Asia, Europe and South America.Water buffalo can also refer to:*Wild water buffalo , the wild ancestor of the domestic water buffalo...
es from a neighboring village. He also frequented prostitutes and once kicked a copy of the Quran to the middle of the street. Sanip is eventually able to return home to Air Jernih.
Talib
Talib is a married twenty-five year old student of Wak Katok. A pessimist, he says very little. When he does speak, it is often a complaint. Talib is attacked by the tiger and later becomes the first to die.Pak Balam
Pak Balam is a fifty-year-old villager who served as a soldier in the 1926 rebellion. He is respected by the villagers as a devout Muslim and war hero. He is the first to be attacked by the tiger, and declares it to be his punishment from God for ignoring Wak Katok's war crimes. He later dies of his wounds.Wak Hitam
Wak Hitam is a nearly seventy-year-old dukun who wears all black. and rumored to have power over djinns, other spirits, and an invisible tiger. He is incredibly wealthy, and is rumored to have married over 100 times. He lives in a huma near the dammar collection area. At the time of the novel, he is very sick and not expected to live.Siti Rubiyah
Siti Rubiyah is the youngest and prettiest wife of Wak Hitam. She was forced to marryForced marriage
Forced marriage is a term used to describe a marriage in which one or both of the parties is married without his or her consent or against his or her will...
him and is unhappy with her marriage. She feels tortured by Wak Katok, who bites, whips, and pinches her. After confiding in Buyung and asking him to rescue her, they have intercourse. However, after hearing of her promiscuity, Buyung decides to renege on his promise and leave her with Wak Hitam.
Themes
Harimau! Harimau! has been seen as an effort to convince superstitiousSuperstition
Superstition is a belief in supernatural causality: that one event leads to the cause of another without any process in the physical world linking the two events....
Indonesians that belief in God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and self-confidence
Self-confidence
The socio-psychological concept of self-confidence relates to self-assuredness in one's personal judgment, ability, power, etc., sometimes manifested excessively.Being confident in yourself is infectious if you present yourself well, others will want to follow in your foot steps towards...
can protect them, not mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
s or talisman
Talisman
Talisman have several meanings:*TalismanBooks and novels* The Talisman , a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott* The Talisman , a novel by Stephen King and Peter Straub...
s.
Reception
Harimau! Harimau! was well-received upon its release. It was named Best Book by Yayasan Buku Utama, a part of the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, in 1975; its moral message was considered a good lesson for young adults. In 1979, Harimau! Harimau! received an award from Yayasan Jaya Raya.Scholar A. Teeuw considered Harimau! Harimau! a good read, but he did not think it could be considered an example of Indonesian belles-lettres
Belles-lettres
Belles-lettres or belles lettres is a term that is used to describe a category of writing. A writer of belles-lettres is a belletrist. However, the boundaries of that category vary in different usages....
. He considered the moral message too explicit, to the point of appearing forced.
Harimau! Harimau! has been translated numerous times, including into English (Tiger!, 1991), Dutch (Een Tijger valt aan, 1982) and Mandarin.