Jalan Tak Ada Ujung
Encyclopedia
Jalan Tak Ada Ujung is an Indonesian novel
by Mochtar Lubis
first published by Balai Pustaka
in 1952
. It takes place during the Indonesian war of independence and tells the story of Guru Isa, a schoolteacher who assists the guerrilla freedom fighters yet lives in fear. It has been considered Lubis' best work.
to have an erection
. However, due to his obligations as a school teacher he attends a youth's meeting, where they discuss the revolution. Unable to say no, he is asked to become a courier and deliver letters and weapons within Jakarta
.
Not long after, Guru Isa meets a young guerrilla named Hazil. Due to their mutual interest in music, the two become friends and Guru Isa begins to feel more relaxed. As they work together for the revolution, Guru Isa becomes uneasier. Not long after delivering weapons outside of Jakarta, Guru Isa falls ill with malaria
.
Hazil assists Guru Isa's wife, Fatimah, with his care. Eventually, Guru Isa is able to leave the house and teach again. However, during this period Fatimah, disappointed by Guru Isa's impotence, begins having an affair with Hazil. Guru Isa learns of this after finding Hazil's smoking pipe under a pillow in the bedroom and becomes furious, but is unable to confront Fatimah or Hazil. Instead, he distances himself further from everyone and becomes even less self-confident.
A while later, Guru Isa and Hazil are tasked with throwing a grenade
at a crowd of soldiers dispersing from a movie theatre. Although they succeed in their mission, not long afterwards Hazil is captured. Although Guru Isa initially intends to leave Jakarta, he decides to face the consequences for what he has done. After being captured by the Dutch forces and staying silent through torture, Guru Isa meets with Hazil in the prison and learns that he had confessed "after just a slap to the head". Overcoming his fear and regaining his self confidence, Guru Isa is able to have an erection again.
teacher who enjoys music and association football. He is well-liked within the community, and married to Fatimah. However, due to the stress of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
and the subsequent war for independence, Guru Isa begins to suffer from erectile dysfunction
. He becomes easily frightened and avoids conflict whenever possible. He covertly works with Hazil to improve the guerrilla's chances of success, but is eventually caught. As he is tortured, he overcomes his fears and is able to have an erection.
. However, after being captured by the Dutch Hazil's braveness disappears; under torture he tells the Dutch where the remaining guerrillas are.
M. Balfas considered Jalan Tak Ada Ujung to be Lubis' best work, writing "compared to other novels by the same author... Jalan Tak Ada Ujung remains his best literary product".
Jalan Tak Ada Ujung was translated as A Road with no End in 1968 by A.H. Johns and into Mandarin in 1988. It has been discussed in numerous theses and dissertations, both in and out of Indonesia.
Indonesian literature
Indonesian literature, is a term grouping various genres of South-East Asian literature.Indonesian Literature can refer to literature produced in the Indonesian archipelago. It is also used to refer more broadly to literature produced in areas with common language roots based on the Malay language...
by Mochtar Lubis
Mochtar Lubis
Mochtar Lubis was an Indonesian Batak journalist and novelist who co-founded Indonesia Raya. His novel Senja di Jakarta was the first Indonesian novel to be translated into English. He was a critic of Sukarno and was imprisoned by him...
first published by Balai Pustaka
Balai Pustaka
Balai Pustaka is the state-owned publisher of Indonesia and publisher of major pieces of Indonesian literature such as Salah Asuhan, Sitti Nurbaya and Layar Terkembang. Its head office is in Jakarta....
in 1952
1952 in literature
The year 1952, in literature involved some significant events and new literary publications.-Events:*J. L. Carr takes over as headmaster of Highfields Primary School, Kettering, which will eventually furnish the subject matter for his novel, The Harpole Report.*November 25 - Agatha Christie's play...
. It takes place during the Indonesian war of independence and tells the story of Guru Isa, a schoolteacher who assists the guerrilla freedom fighters yet lives in fear. It has been considered Lubis' best work.
Plot
Guru Isa, a school teacher, lives in constant fear. The Indonesian war for independence is raging, and before that the Japanese occupiers had created terror amongst the populace; his fear is so great that for years he has become unableErectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
to have an erection
Erection
Penile erection is a physiological phenomenon where the penis becomes enlarged and firm. Penile erection is the result of a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular and endocrine factors, and is usually, though not exclusively, associated with sexual arousal...
. However, due to his obligations as a school teacher he attends a youth's meeting, where they discuss the revolution. Unable to say no, he is asked to become a courier and deliver letters and weapons within Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
.
Not long after, Guru Isa meets a young guerrilla named Hazil. Due to their mutual interest in music, the two become friends and Guru Isa begins to feel more relaxed. As they work together for the revolution, Guru Isa becomes uneasier. Not long after delivering weapons outside of Jakarta, Guru Isa falls ill with malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
.
Hazil assists Guru Isa's wife, Fatimah, with his care. Eventually, Guru Isa is able to leave the house and teach again. However, during this period Fatimah, disappointed by Guru Isa's impotence, begins having an affair with Hazil. Guru Isa learns of this after finding Hazil's smoking pipe under a pillow in the bedroom and becomes furious, but is unable to confront Fatimah or Hazil. Instead, he distances himself further from everyone and becomes even less self-confident.
A while later, Guru Isa and Hazil are tasked with throwing a grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
at a crowd of soldiers dispersing from a movie theatre. Although they succeed in their mission, not long afterwards Hazil is captured. Although Guru Isa initially intends to leave Jakarta, he decides to face the consequences for what he has done. After being captured by the Dutch forces and staying silent through torture, Guru Isa meets with Hazil in the prison and learns that he had confessed "after just a slap to the head". Overcoming his fear and regaining his self confidence, Guru Isa is able to have an erection again.
Guru Isa
Guru Isa, the main character, is a elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
teacher who enjoys music and association football. He is well-liked within the community, and married to Fatimah. However, due to the stress of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
and the subsequent war for independence, Guru Isa begins to suffer from erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
. He becomes easily frightened and avoids conflict whenever possible. He covertly works with Hazil to improve the guerrilla's chances of success, but is eventually caught. As he is tortured, he overcomes his fears and is able to have an erection.
Hazil
Hazil is a young guerrilla and friend of Guru Isa. He is enthusiastic about the war for independence and fights bravely. After frequenting Guru Isa's house, Hazil becomes attracted to Fatimah and they have a brief affairInfidelity
In many intimate relationships in many cultures there is usually an express or implied expectation of exclusivity, especially in sexual matters. Infidelity most commonly refers to a breach of the expectation of sexual exclusivity.Infidelity can occur in relation to physical intimacy and/or...
. However, after being captured by the Dutch Hazil's braveness disappears; under torture he tells the Dutch where the remaining guerrillas are.
Reception
A year after its publication by Balai Bahasa in 1952, Jalan Tak Ada Ujung received an award from the Badan Musyawarah Kebudayaan Nasional.M. Balfas considered Jalan Tak Ada Ujung to be Lubis' best work, writing "compared to other novels by the same author... Jalan Tak Ada Ujung remains his best literary product".
Jalan Tak Ada Ujung was translated as A Road with no End in 1968 by A.H. Johns and into Mandarin in 1988. It has been discussed in numerous theses and dissertations, both in and out of Indonesia.