THE DISCOURSE OF ISLAM IN A BED OF RED FLOWERS A THESIS Presented as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Magister Humaniora (M.Hum) Degree in English Language Studies by CHARLES SETIAWAN TOEDJE Student Number: 076332007 THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2010 i THE DISCOURSE OF ISLAM IN A BED OF RED FLOWERS A THESIS Presented as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Magister Humaniora (M.Hum) Degree in English Language Studies By CHARLES SETIAWAN TOEDJE Student Number: 076332007 Approved by Dr. St. Sunardi Yogyakarta, June 12, 2010 Supervisor ii A THESIS THE DISCOURSE OF ISLAM IN A BED OF RED FLOWERS Presented by CHARLES SETIAWAN TOEDJE Student Number: 076332007 Defended before the Board Examiners and declared acceptable BOARD OF EXAMINERS Chairperson : Dra. Novita Dewi, M.S.,M.A (Hons)., Ph.D : Secretary : Dr. St. Sunardi : Member : Dr. Alb. Budi Susanto, S.J. : Member : Prof. Dr. Bakdi Soemanto, S.U. : Yogyakarta, June 24, 2010 The Graduated Program Director Sanata Dharma University Prof. A. Supraptiknya iii STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY This is to certify that all ideas, phrases, and sentences, unless otherwise stated, are the ideas, phrases, and sentences of the thesis writer. The writer understands the full consequences including degree cancellation if he takes somebody else‘s ideas, phrases, or sentences without giving proper references. Yogyakarta, June 12, 2010 Charles Setiawan Toedje iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT "Ane nawa-nawa ntolino ince'i bare'e da ndakoto, paikanya ri Pue Ala bere'e anu bare'e ndakoto." "Untuk manusia, itu mustahil! Tetapi untuk Allah, semua mungkin." "There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything." (Matthew 19: 26, CEV) I devote this thesis to my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who always gives me strength to walk from glory to glory. I am certain that I have completed this thesis not because of my capability, but solely because of His grace. I can do nothing with all this work, but with Jesus I can say that nothing is impossible and impossible is nothing as well. Everything in this thesis I devote for the glory of His name. My gratitude is sincerely addressed to Dr. St. Sunardi who assists me to write this thesis and finally to complete my study in Sanata Dharma University. Due to his suggestion only I could conduct this research, although, at first I was not sure as to finish this thesis. I want to thank also to my best favorite lecturer in Sanata Dharma University, Dr. Novita Dewi, M.S., M.A., who is helpful and always encourages me to write and write, although sometimes I was tired to write given my inability. Many times I was about to stop writing this thesis; I felt lonely and desperate as if no one cared with me. Indeed, I listened to her suggestions. v I also remember all lecturers at the Graduate Program of Sanata Dharma University either in KBI or in IRB that have taught me many things during my study in this university. I want to say thank you to Dr. B.B. Dwijatmoko, Mukarto, PhD., Prof. Soebakdi Sumanto, Dr. Alb. Budi Susanto, S.J. Prof. Supomo, Dr. Budiawan, Dr. G. Subanar, S.J. and Dr. Katrin Bandel. Then, I want to say thank you to all my friends in Sanata Dharma particularly the 2007 batch namely Ibu Thineke Ansaka, mas Chosak, mas Nico, mas Johan, mbak Pipin and many others. Although your names are not listed here, trust me that all your kindness is always in my heart. Thank for your kindness to help me to learn in this university and hopefully, God will requite all your kindness with His great blessing. My great thankfulness goes to those who have helped me and supported my study in Jogjakarta, namely, Mrs. Barth Orwell in Switzerland with her sincerity to support me in prayer and funding, Hamled Rundubelo and Budiman Maliki (my friends from Poso) Bobi Sinseng and Hance Sianto (my friends in Pringgading No.17 Jogjakarta). Unforgettably, I want to thank to the best team prayer of GKKD Jogjakarta, Richard Sianturi and friends who have assisted me to pray and worship God every time. Then, I also thank to all the colleagues of Sintuwu Maroso University of Poso chiefly Rector, Dean and all lecturers who give me trust to continue my study. Further, my great gratitude is addressed to my close family members particularly my father J. Toedje and my mother D. Pandonge. And I thank also to my brothers Jepi and Tedeng, and my sisters, Eva and Uci. All of you have supported and vi given me an opportunity to continue my study in Jogjakarta with prayer and financial support to finish this study. Finally, I dedicate this thesis to my beloved wife Trisyawati Suryaningsi Pokalose and my beautiful baby Virginia Givana Toedje who had given me time and allowed me to leave them lonely without husband and father for almost three years. Indeed, I cannot reckon the tears and prayers that have been prayed to God. Yet, I want to acknowledge and honor Him because He never leaves us alone. He always accompanies us up to this day because we are His beloved children. And we are destined more than conqueror. Last but not least, I share this thesis for the enlightenment in Tana Poso. Praise be to the Lord God, Jesus Christ who is worthy for the glory, honor and power. Hallelujah. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE ........................................................................................................ i APPROVAL PAGE .............................................................................................. ii BOARD OF EXAMINERS .................................................................................. iii STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ...................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... ix ABSTRAK ............................................................................................................ x I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 A. Background of the Study ........................................................................ 1 B. Problem Limitation ................................................................................. 11 C. Problem Formulation .............................................................................. 13 D. Objectives of the Study ........................................................................... 13 E. Research Method .................................................................................... 14 F. Benefit and Significance of the Study .................................................... 15 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................... 18 A. Literature Review of Related Studies ..................................................... 18 B. Review of Related Studies ...................................................................... 27 C. Theoretical Framework ........................................................................... 38 III. MASTER DISCOURSE OF ISLAM AS TOLD IN A BED OF RED FLOWERS ................................................................. 40 A. Variety of Islam ...................................................................................... 43 1. Traditional Islam ................................................................................ 45 2. Liberal Islam ...................................................................................... 58 3. Fundamental Islam ............................................................................. 80 B. Nuance of Islam in Vernacular Language as Clues of Pazira‘s Islam .... 92 IV. UNTOLD STORY IN A BED OF RED FLOWERS ................................. 97 A. Symptom of Trauma ............................................................................... 98 B. Depiction of Characters to Show the Author‘s Objection toward the Discourse of Islam ............................................................................ 120 C. Area of Negotiation................................................................................. 129 V. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................ 143 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 153 APPENDICES ............................................................................................... 157 o Synopsis of A Bed of Red Flowers ..................................................... 157 viii ABSTRACT Toedje, Charles Setiawan. 2010. The Discourse of Islam in A Bed of Red Flowers. Yogyakarta: The Graduate Program in English Language Studies. Sanata Dharma University. This study examines an autobiographical novel A Bed of Red Flowers written in 2005 by Nelofer Pazira, a young Afghanistan woman. This novel has won the Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize, awarded by The Writers‘ Trust of Canada. The content of this novel is a narration of the experiences of the author living in Afghanistan during the conflict between the Soviet Union army and the Mujahidin militia forces and the situation since the United States‘ invasion of the country after the September 11 tragedy. Nevertheless, the core of this novel is to discuss