[Book Review] Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam written by Dian Purnomo
“There are some cultures that are worthy to keep in Indonesia, but also many cultures which are not worthy to keep and must be eliminated because it was disadvantageous for some people,” (p.20)
Before you are mad with this sentence which is already quoted in this book, you need to read my review about this book. Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam explained Kawin Tangkap (known as yappa mawine or Piti Rambang) which have meaning ‘tangkap’ in Sumba. Moreover, there is another name in Sumba known as Piti Rambang. Generally, Piti Rambang explained how the man bride catches up with the woman bride. Nevertheless, the process already planned also accepted both of them. Nonetheless, the reality almost men used their customs to harass, and women rape by appointing customs. It is well explained by Dian Purnomo in her novel.
The story of Perempuan yang Menangis kepada Bulan Hitam is narrated how Magi Diela struggled when she raped by Leba Ali. In this case, it’s imagined how Leba Ali and custom-created Magi Diela (and almost women) feel their misery because custom had a powerful impact on woman’s life in their village. Afterward, imagine how Magi Diela’s anger because of Leba Ali’s behavior also Ama bobo has an offer to Magi to married with Leba Ali because of his disgrace. Her father thought Magi already defaced her family.
The first time I read the novel, it would be presented Magi Diela in the hospital because she fought with Leba Ali. Several chapters used flash-forward and flashback plots that narrated Magi Diela’s condition in the hospital and then described two days before the tragedy. Moreover, also explained after the tragedy why Magi Diela was in the hospital. This novel is interesting because the dialogue represented uses Sumba Language. Furthermore, when we read the novel we already imagined living in Sumba. After, I read some chapters the writer showed how Magi Diela did a struggle for her life. Personally, her idea is insane because she thought there are no techniques to find her free will (suicide and married with Leba Ali).
From this novel, we know that sexual rape is not only about lust but also authority and this case is really complex. It comes about the man having power and they feel superior to women because society already placed men as first class society. How do we know about that? It well explained Leba Ali as a man who has power and a powerful impact on everyone. In addition, he arbitrarily because he has money. So, he can give money to the police and the placeman to keep his behavior. It is represented in the scene where he has already been caught up by the police but he was living normally because he had power and a network that can find around Sumba.
With the man who doing harassment to women because they said it is custom, the tradition will always happen which have the consequence of women being victimized by sexual harassment also sexual rape. It commonly happened because they felt that a woman was an object to men. The marriage can be happened because of the gap between material also the distinction of social stratification between them. Despite this, there are many factors such as social strata, education, economy, and beliefs.
Kawin tangkap already planned before but everyone was used to this custom because of the distinction of social stratification and the men felt as if they are superior, so they did everything that they wanted to. It is explained in the dialogue between Magi and Tamo:
“Sa, punya mama kecil dulu juga ditangkap,”
“Tapi itu dulu sekali, Sa masih belum masuk SD. Setelah itu sa jarang sekali dengar lagi ada orang yang diculik untuk dijadikan istri. Yang sa dengar kalau ada kawin tangkap, itu sebetulnya su direncanakan. Jadi seperti sandiwara sa, supaya tidak terlalu mahal biaya deng keluarga. Dan itu ju bukan disini. Di Kodi, Sumba Tengah, atau Sumba Timur, tapi tidak di sini. Sa tidak percaya sekarang sa sendiri yang jadi korbannya.”
Magi Wara kemudian mengatakan “Mungkin sebetulnya sudah ada perjanjian antara sa punya bapak kecil dan ko punya ama. Karena biasanya seperti itu.”
In my viewpoint, Ama Bobo already had an agreement with Leba Ali but he did not say to Magi Diela because he thought that no one wanted to have a relationship with Magi Diela whereas her age in her village categorized woman should be married to a man. Nevertheless, her father did want to ruin her life. By reason of abduction wherever showed that Kawin tangkap give trauma to Magi Diela and run into harassment her.
If you want to read this novel, you need a good mental because there are many trigger warnings. Furthermore, this novel represented patriarchal culture is really tenacious. The usage of the Sumba language is well explained and brings into to imagination of living in Sumba. Moreover, this novel represented some ideologies to do sexual rape. It is not only narrated and sexual rape and domestic violence experienced by Magi Diela but also explained a woman who was victimized by a man such as sexual harassment and sexual rape. In addition, it is already well explained how women come up to stand up for their rights in their life and against gender inequality.
