Figur Ayah yang Cair: Dekonstruksi Makna dalam Novel Seribu Wajah Ayah Karya Nurun Ala

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the father-child relationship in the novel Seribu Wajah Ayah by Nurun Ala using the deconstruction approach developed by Jacques Derrida. Deconstruction in this novel reveals that the father-child relationship is not fixed and absolute; rather, it experiences shifts in meaning based on experiences, interactions, and the surrounding social and cultural contexts. The research employs a qualitative descriptive method, analyzing excerpts from the novel that depict the father-child relationship. The analytical steps involve identifying narratives and dialogues that represent the father-child relationship, examining the emerging binary oppositions—such as strong-weak, authoritative-gentle, or traditional-modern—deconstructing dominant meanings by highlighting contradictions or gaps within the text, and reinterpreting the father-child relationship within shifting social and cultural frameworks. The analysis shows that the father figure in this novel is not solely represented as an authoritative figure and breadwinner, but also as a loving, vulnerable individual who experiences emotional struggles in fulfilling his role. The results of this study indicate that the novel Seribu Wajah Ayah offers a more complex and dynamic perspective on the father-child relationship. Through the deconstruction approach, this research contributes to literary and socio-cultural studies by revealing how the interpretation of the father figure can continuously evolve and be influenced by its surrounding context.