MULTICULTURALISM IN INDONESIAN NOVELS AS A CULTURE-UNITING DEVICE

Abstract

This study aims to describe multiculturalism in Indonesian novels in the post-independence era. The sources are eight novels written from 1970s to 1990s. Multiculturalism is analyzed using social theories on the basis of cultural pluralistic mosaic. The findings show that multiculturalism in Indonesian novels is manifested in the use of a variety of languages in the works, understanding of social classes, citizens’ devotion, inter-religion understanding, expressions of affection, and inter-nation marriages. Multicultural novels can serve as a culture-uniting device.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n22p130