RECHARACTERIZATION OF HIKAYAT HANG TUAH?:
A NEW READING
A NEW READING
Watching the video clip below on the death of Hang Jebat, I am now wondering who the real murderer of democracy is. Why did the "rebel" hand the "magical keris" Taming Sari, continue to fight, and yet knew that he was going to go down "with style"? Hang Tuah is already a historical "gone case"; a man projected as "moral and loyal" yet a creation of an author who is immoral and ideologically misguided.
The author of the Hikayat Hang Tuah wanted Jebat to give up democracy by committing physical and political suicide. The keris symbolizes the "tool of divine intervention" and used by the author to symbolize the power of the supernatural.
The ideology produced by the author is interesting; to cushion the fall of the corrupt Melakkan empire.
So, neither Hang Tuan is the hero, nor hang Jebat a rebel-warrior. The hero is the author who manipulated the direction of the flow of ideological consciousness of the Malays, up to this day. The Malays have taken a wrong "semiotic turn" in our understanding of Malay history.
Watch the video clip again, analyze the dialogue, and ask ourselves: what did the author of this Malay hikayat wish to propagate?
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4 comments:
The two "HANGS" depict the Malay mind of the era of Malacca sultanate which is prevailing till present day.
The truth was, beside knowing what he (Hang Tuah) had done was wrong but there was no sign of regret or remorseful in him and received the glorious award by the sultan with pride. Isn't it despicable?
The two "HANGS" did not fight for democracy but propagating the Malay ideology of "Blindly follow Me", which is deeply rooted with the Malays.
Where is the truth of these two "HANGS"? Still wondering.
It reminds me in one of the classroom on the subject of Tsun Szu 'Arts of War" an American student seating beside me, since I came from the same region as Tsun Szu, asking me whether there was a real person by the name of Tsun Szu.
So it is about time to wake up!!!!!.dh9753
This reminds me of the secondary school subject, Komponen Sastera or komsas (Literature Component), where there was a story on the Hang Tuah (hence forth knwon as HT), and Hang Jebat (hence forth known as HJ), battling each other after HJ found out that the sultan had given the order to execute HT based on false accusations by advisors.
Based on the story, you will have to answer questions. One question that was posed to students was "Whos action was correct and why?"
Based on ethics and morality, HJ was correct in his actions of "derhaka" or treason in running amok as HT was his childhood friend. However, HT was super loyal to the sultan although the sultan wanted him dead and hence, fatally wounded HJ in a great battle as described by literature.
Now, both sides have their morality and etical issues but, refering back to the question, "Whos action was correct and why?" It would mean the student has free choice in writing what they thought. However, in order to score marks, the students are forced to write the actions of HT is correct.
Literature is suppose to stimulate critical thinking and yet, some of the students are forced to write about the correctness of HT's actions in order to score marks. This undermines the point of literature, and that is to stimulate critical thinking and forming own ideas.
are they still in the school history book??? i heard that they were removed from the history book as they were found out as chinese.
you know the Hang Li Po group of people... don't know how true it is.
IMHO, a good literature show us the value of people, and make us think. And the interpretation of a literature is always BEYOND the control of the author.
Hikayat Hang Tuah actually are open to ANY interpretation. In the pass, the Malay ruler can interpret it as loyal to the royalty. However, in modern day, there is more and more interpretation appear. We see corruption of power that lead to Hang tuah Betrayal of Hang Jebat. The story of rebelious Malay people (If without the help of dissidents, Hang Jebat will be hunted down long time ago).
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As those who claim about the removal of Hang story from the text book, IMHO, it has nothing to do with Hang origin. It is removed from the text book because Hang Tuah has been RELABEL and reinterpret as the slave of the tyrant,betrayal of friendship and a corrupted personalities. And don't forget, the re-interpretation is bring out as hot topic by Anwar.
And it is obvious who assumed the roles of "hang tuah", and it is not difficult for those on top come out with the decision to expel "Hang" story from the text book.
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