Essay Database

Soekarno's article "Nationalism, Islam and Marxism" argues that the three mentioned ideologies and movements within Indonesia could work cohesively to create a free and independent nation-state. The article sounds more like a fervent speech than an academic argument that clearly makes the case. In fact, after reading Soekarno, I became less convinced as I became aware of the desperation in the tone and his appeal for people to be convinced more by his word than …

…Kin seems to represent traditional, pre-Islamic Javanese culture because she tells the boy stories from Hindu mythology while his mother tells him stories of the Near East and Islamic heroes. Nji Kin was once a vain and beautiful girl, but contracted syphilis and was punished for her beauty while his own mother is presented as a pious and pure woman. There are many contrasts between what is pure and what is unpure, good and evil.