Java Society Moral Decadence in Serat Wicara Keras

This study aims to describe the moral decadence or decline / decline in morals and social behavior of the people of Surakarta, as expressed by Serat Wicara Keras by the poet R. Ng. Second Yasadipura. This research includes text analysis methods, interpretation, and ideological analysis. The text analysis method uses structural analysis techniques. Interpretation using Charles Sanders Pierce's semiotics. Ideological analysis uses the theory of new historicism. This research found that Javanese society during the reign of Sunan Paku Buwana IV experienced many setbacks, both morally and socially. These setbacks include, for example, that there are many descendants of kings who no longer have supernatural powers, children of priests who no longer like fasting, children of poets who do not speak the language, and so on. Because of the many deficiencies in this society, the Serat Wicara Keras considered a criticism of the power of Paku Buwana IV. This opinion cannot be accepted if it is associated with the positions of the poets and kings; however, the poets still conveyed the king's ideology. Serat Wicara Keras conveyed the opinion of King Paku Buwana IV who regretted the social situation in his day.