FANTASY, DESIRE AND IDENTITY FRAMING THE IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION OF LUH SEKAR

Abstract

This article examines the roles of fantasy and desire in the process of identity construction  as experienced  by Luh Sekar, one of the characters  in Oka Rusmini’s most notable work of fiction, Tarian Bumi. Employing Stuart Hall’s postulate on identity construction in critically reading the novel, it is found that the subject’s identity construction is highly influenced by her fantasy and desire of caste and gender - not only does caste structure women’s social location through rank and role, but that as part of the symbolic order it constitutes the women themselves.