‘Other’ in Relation with ‘Subject’ in Centhini – Empat Puluh Malam dan Satunya Hujan – an Existentialist Feminism Reading

The present paper portrays the freedom in engagement in the existence of feminine character as depicted in the adaptation performed by the French author and poet Elizabeth D. Inandiak on one of the masterpieces of Javanese literature, Serat Centhini initiated by Sunan Pakubuwana V and supported by a team of author. There are several volumes of adaptations materialized by Inandiak with different titles. The focus on Empat Puluh Malam dan Satunya Hujan (2004) is based on the captivating depiction of Javanese women in various roles in this volume, Ratu Pandhansari and Niken Tambangraras. The study of these two women was performed implementing an Existentialist Feminism concept of Simone de Beauvoir, emphasizing upon Subject (male) and Other (female) notion. Meanwhile, as a method, a hermeneutic qualitative descriptive method was chosen to place the research inside the work of art. Result shows that both women live an authentic existence in their roles as Javanese wives. Ratu Pandhansari lived an existence as a woman who seemed ‘out of line’ when she was victorious in the war and Niken Tambangraras exists as Other with a voice which is existentially important because of its leading nature.